FIRST SECTION
DECISION
Application no. 21551/23
Federico BRUNETTI
against Italy
The European Court of Human Rights (First Section), sitting on 28 May 2024 as a Committee composed of:
Péter Paczolay, President,
Gilberto Felici,
Raffaele Sabato, judges,
and Liv Tigerstedt, Deputy Section Registrar,
Having regard to the above application lodged on 1 June 2023,
Having regard to the declaration submitted by the respondent Government on 8 November 2023 requesting the Court to strike the application out of the list of cases and the applicant’s reply to that declaration,
Having deliberated, decides as follows:
FACTS AND PROCEDURE
The applicant, Mr Federico Brunetti, is an Italian national, who was born in 1997 and is detained in prison in Italy. He was represented before the Court by Mr A. Saccucci, Ms G. Borgna and Ms V. Cafaro, lawyers practising in Rome.
The Italian Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr L. D’Ascia.
The applicant’s complaints under Articles 3, 6 and 13 of the Convention, concerning the conditions of detention deemed inadequate for his mental health, the non-enforcement of the domestic decision ordering his placement in a prison facility equipped with a care and assistance department, namely a mental health protection unit (Articolazione per la Tutela della Salute Mentale, “ATSM”) and the lack of an effective domestic remedy to complain of the alleged violation of Article 3 of the Convention, were communicated to the Government.
After unsuccessful friendly-settlement negotiations, by letter dated 8 November 2023 the Government informed the Court that they proposed to make a declaration with a view to resolving the issues raised by the application. The text of the declaration reads as follows:
« Le Gouvernement italien reconnait que le requérant a subi les violations de la Convention contestées par le requérant, selon les principes exprimés par la Cour EDH dans la matière.
Le Gouvernement italien, avec la présente déclaration, offre globalement au requérant la somme globale de 30.000,00 euros couvrants tous dommage souffert ; pour les frais et les dépenses de la procédure, le Gouvernement se remet à l’appréciation de la Cour.
Le Gouvernement informe qui il est en train d’adopter tout initiative pour régler le problème des places disponibles dans les REMS.
Le Gouvernement estime que la présente déclaration, avec la somme offerte à titre de dommage moral, frais et dépens, constitue un redressement adéquat des violations à l’aune de la jurisprudence de la Cour en la matière.
Le Gouvernement invite respectueusement la Cour à dire qu’il ne se justifie plus de poursuivre l’examen des violations alléguées dans la requête et de la rayer du rôle conformément à l’article 37 de la Convention, car les conditions prévues par l’article 62A du Règlement de la Cour sont remplies.
Dans les trois mois suivants la date de notification de la décision de radiation de l’affaire du rôle de la Cour, le Gouvernement paiera la somme offerte avec la présente déclaration. »
On 17 November 2023, the Court received a letter from the applicant informing the Court that he agreed to the terms of the Government’s declaration. As to costs and expenses, the applicant, outlining the novelty of the issue in the case at stake, requested the Court to award at least 4,000 euros (EUR), plus taxes.
THE LAW
The Court finds that following the applicant’s express agreement to the terms of the declaration made by the Government the case should be treated as a friendly settlement between the parties.
It therefore takes note of the friendly settlement reached between the parties. It is satisfied that the settlement is based on respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and its Protocols and finds no reasons to justify a continued examination of the application.
In view of the above, it is appropriate to strike the case out of the list.
Concerning an award for costs and expenses, noting that the Government left it to the discretion of the Court to determine an appropriate amount and taking into account the applicant’s request, the Court awards the applicant EUR 2,500, including any tax that may be chargeable to him.
For these reasons, the Court, unanimously,
Decides to strike the application out of its list of cases pursuant to Article 39 of the Convention;
Holds
(a) that the respondent State is to pay to the applicant, within three months, in addition to the sum contained in the unilateral declaration submitted by the Government, EUR 2,500 (two thousand five hundred euros), plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicant, for costs and expenses;
(b) that from the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement simple interest shall be payable on the above amount at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points.
Done in English and notified in writing on 20 June 2024.
Liv Tigerstedt Péter Paczolay
Deputy Registrar President