Resolution ResDH(2000)148
concerning the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights
of 22 June 2000
in the case of Bacelar de Sousa Machado I against Portugal
(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 18 December 2000
at the 732nd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as amended by Protocol No. 11 (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”),
Having regard to the final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the Bacelar de Sousa Machado I case delivered on 22 June 2000 and transmitted to the Committee of Ministers on the same date under Article 44 of the Convention;
Recalling that the case originated in an application (No. 37308/97) against Portugal, lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 27 March 1997 under previous Article 25 of the Convention by Mr Gonçalo Bacelar de Sousa Machado, a Portuguese national, and that the Court, seized of the case under Article 5, paragraph 2, of Protocol No. 11, declared admissible the complaint relating to the excessive length of certain proceedings before the civil courts;
Whereas in its judgment of 22 June 2000 the Court, after having taken formal note of a friendly settlement reached by the Government of the respondent State and the applicant, and having been satisfied that the settlement was based on respect for human rights as defined in the Convention or its Protocols, decided, unanimously to strike the case out of its list and took note of the parties’ undertaking not to request a re-hearing of the case before the Grand Chamber;
Whereas under the above-mentioned friendly settlement it was agreed that the Government of Portugal would pay the applicant, as soon as the judgment is notified, the total sum of 1 050 000 Portuguese escudos, namely 800 000 Portuguese escudos in respect of non-pecuniary damage and 250 000 Portuguese escudos in respect of costs and expenses;
Recalling that Rule 44, paragraph 2, of the Rules of the Court provides that the striking out of a case shall be effected by means of a judgment which the President shall forward to the Committee of Ministers once it has become final in order to allow it to supervise, in accordance with Article 46, paragraph 2 of the Convention, the execution of any undertakings which may have been attached to the discontinuance or solution of the matter;
Having regard to the Rules adopted by the Committee of Ministers concerning the application of previous Article 54 which are, for the time being, applicable by analogy to cases transmitted to it under Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention;
Having satisfied itself that on 21 August 2000, the Government of the respondent State had paid the applicant the sums provided for in the friendly settlement and that no other measure was required in the present case to conform to the Court’s judgment,
Declares, after having taken note of the information supplied by the Government of Portugal, that it has exercised its functions under Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention in this case.
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