Résolution CM/ResDH(2013)64
Barać et autres contre Monténégro
Exécution de l’arrêt de la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme
(Requête no 47974/06, arrêt du 13/12/2011, définitif le 13/03/2012)
(adoptée par le Comité de Ministres le 30 avril 2013,
lors de la 1169e réunion des Délégués des Ministres)
Le Comité des Ministres, en vertu de l’article 46, paragraphe 2, de la Convention de sauvegarde des droits de l’homme et des libertés fondamentales, qui prévoit que le Comité surveille l’exécution des arrêts définitifs de la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme (ci-après nommées « la Convention » et « la Cour »),
Vu l’arrêt définitif, qui a été transmis par la Cour au Comité dans l’affaire ci-dessus et la violation constatée ;
Rappelant l’obligation de l’Etat défendeur, en vertu de l’article 46, paragraphe 1, de la Convention, de se conformer aux arrêts définitifs dans les litiges auxquels il est partie et que cette obligation implique, outre le paiement de la satisfaction équitable octroyée par la Cour, l’adoption par les autorités de l’Etat défendeur, si nécessaire :
- de mesures individuelles pour mettre fin aux violations constatées et en effacer les conséquences, dans la mesure du possible par restitutio in integrum ; et
- de mesures générales permettant de prévenir des violations semblables ;
Ayant invité le gouvernement de l’Etat défendeur à informer le Comité des mesures prises pour se conformer à l’obligation susmentionnée ;
Ayant examiné le bilan d’action fourni par le gouvernement indiquant les mesures adoptées afin d’exécuter l’arrêt y compris les informations fournies en ce qui concerne le paiement de la satisfaction équitable octroyée par la Cour (voir document DH-DD(2013)105E) ;
S’étant assuré que toutes les mesures requises par l’article 46, paragraphe 1, ont été adoptées,
DECLARE qu’il a rempli ses fonctions en vertu de l’article 46, paragraphe 2, de la Convention dans cette affaire et
DECIDE d’en clore l’examen.
Action report
Barać and Others v. Montenegro, Application No. 47974/06
judgment of 13 December 2011, final on 13 March 2012
(anglais seulement)
I Case description
This case concerns the violation of the applicants’ right to a fair trial on account of the fact that the domestic final judgment rendered against them had been based on a law which was no longer in force at the relevant time (violation of Article 6, paragraph 1).
The European Court stated in particular “that no fair trial could be considered to have been held where the reason given in the relevant domestic decision was not envisaged by the domestic legislation and, therefore, was not a legally valid one...” (§32). The Court observed furthermore that the final decision rendered by the High Court in Podgorica against the applicants relied solely on an Act which had previously been declared unconstitutional and a relevant decision to that effect already published in the Official Gazette (§33).
II Individual measures
According to the applicable legislation (Article 428a of the Civil Procedure Law), the applicants were entitled to request reopening of the impugned proceedings within three months following to the European Court’s judgment in this case. The applicants did not, however, lodge a request for reopening of the impugned civil proceedings.
The European Court has however awarded just satisfaction to the applicants in respect of the non‑pecuniary damage sustained.
In view of these facts, no individual measure is required.
III General measures
The Constitution of Montenegro provides that the courts shall administer justice on the basis of the Constitution, laws and ratified international treaties (Article 118). It further provides that any law must be compliant with the Constitution (Article 145).
The violation found in this case stems therefore from the misapplication of the legislation by the domestic courts in this particular case. The Government of Montenegro thus considers that the publication and dissemination of the European Court’s judgment in this case will suffice to prevent similar violations. The European Court’s judgment in this case was accordingly published in the “Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 17/2012 of 27 March 2012. The European Court’s judgment has also been published on the website of the Supreme Court of Montenegro, which made it available to all interested persons.
The government wishes to stress that it is aware of no other recorded case in Montenegro where national courts applied a law, which was previously proclaimed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court. It can be therefore concluded that the application of the relevant provisions, which were declared unconstitutional, in this was an isolated occurrence. For this reason, the government considers that no other general measures, apart from publication and dissemination, are called for in this case.
IV Just satisfaction
The amounts awarded to the applicants in respect of non-pecuniary damages as well as costs and expenses were paid to the applicants within the deadline set by the European Court.
V Conclusions of the respondent State
In view of the above facts, the Government of Montenegro considers that no individual measure is required, apart from the payment of the just satisfaction, and that the general measures adopted will prevent similar violations and that Montenegro has thus complied with its obligation under Article 46, paragraph 1 of the Convention. It is therefore proposed to the Committee of Ministers to adopt a final resolution closing the supervision of execution of this case.
Representative of Montenegro before the European Court of Human Rights
Zoran Pažin
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy