A former property owner is asking the European court for about €127,057 in compensation after the Maltese government expropriated her property and left it unused for 25 years.

Victoria Vassallo, of Żebbuġ, resorted to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg after a tract of land in Tal-Qattus, in Birkirkara, which belonged to her family, was expropriated by the government in 1974 for a social housing project.

Remaining untouched for almost 25 years, in 1999, the government offered Ms Vassallo and her family about €13,023 in compensation. However, they turned down the offer and took the case to the land arbitration board.

In 2000, the government returned part of the land, which was still undeveloped, to Ms Vassallo. Two years later, the government started building maisonettes, which were left unfinished in May 2003.

In a Constitutional Court case, the family argued there was no public interest behind the expropriation and that the government had no real and concrete plan for a housing project. In fact, the government started developing the housing project only after the Vassallos launched proceedings 25 years later, they argued in court.

The Constitutional Court ruled in their favour, saying the Vassallos' fundamental human rights were breached and ordered the Land Department to pay them €50,000 damages.

However, the Vassallos and the Land Department both filed an appeal. The Court upheld the government's case and ordered it to pay the Vassallos €15,000 in compensation.

Ms Vassallo said her fundamental human rights were breached and she is now asking the European Court to order the Maltese government to pay her €127,057 in compensation.

Lawyers Josè Herrera and David Camilleri filed the case.