FOURTH SECTION
CASE OF BALIĆ AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
(Application no. 44080/16 and 37 others -
see appended list)
JUDGMENT
STRASBOURG
27 June 2019
This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.
In the case of Balić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina,
The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting as a Committee composed of:
Stéphanie Mourou-Vikström, President,
Georges Ravarani,
Jolien Schukking, judges,
and Liv Tigerstedt Acting Deputy Section Registrar,
Having deliberated in private on 6 June 2019,
Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:
PROCEDURE
1. The case originated in applications against Bosnia and Herzegovina lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) on the various dates indicated in the appended table.
2. The applicants were represented by Mr S. Zaklan, a lawyer practising in Mostar.
3. Notice of the applications was given to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“the Government”).
THE FACTS
4. The list of applicants and the relevant details of the applications are set out in the appended table.
5. The applicants complained of the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions.
THE LAW
I. JOINDER OF THE APPLICATIONS
6. Having regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single judgment.
II. ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 6 § 1 OF THE CONVENTION AND OF ARTICLE 1 OF PROTOCOL No. 1
7. The applicants complained of the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions given in their favour. They relied, expressly or in substance, on Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and on Article 1 of Protocol No. 1, which read as follows:
Article 6 § 1
“In the determination of his civil rights and obligations ... everyone is entitled to a fair ... hearing ... by [a] ... tribunal ...”
Article 1 of Protocol No. 1
“Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.
The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of a State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure the payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties.”
8. The Court reiterates that the execution of a judgment given by any court must be regarded as an integral part of a “hearing” for the purposes of Article 6. It also refers to its case-law concerning the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of final domestic judgments (see Hornsby v. Greece, no. 18357/91, § 40, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1997‑II).
9. In the leading cases of Spahić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 20514/15 and 15 others, §§ 25-31, 14 November 2017, and Kunić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 68955/12 and 15 others, §§ 26‑31, 14 November 2017, the Court already found a violation in respect of issues similar to those in the present case.
10. The Court further notes that the decisions in the present applications ordered specific action to be taken. The Court therefore considers that the decisions in question constitute “possessions” within the meaning of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1.
11. Having examined all the material submitted to it, the Court has not found any fact or argument capable of persuading it to reach a different conclusion on the admissibility and merits of these complaints. Having regard to its case-law on the subject, the Court considers that in the instant case the authorities did not deploy all necessary efforts to enforce fully and in due time the decisions in the applicants’ favour.
12. These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1.
III. APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 41 OF THE CONVENTION
13. Article 41 of the Convention provides:
“If the Court finds that there has been a violation of the Convention or the Protocols thereto, and if the internal law of the High Contracting Party concerned allows only partial reparation to be made, the Court shall, if necessary, afford just satisfaction to the injured party.”
14. Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case‑law (see, in particular, Spahić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 20514/15 and 15 others, §§ 36-43, 14 November 2017, and Kunić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 68955/12 and 15 others, §§ 37‑46, 14 November 2017), the Court considers it reasonable to award the sums indicated in the appended table.
15. The Court further notes that the respondent State has an outstanding obligation to enforce the judgments which remain enforceable.
16. The Court considers it appropriate that the default interest rate should be based on the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank, to which should be added three percentage points.
FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT, UNANIMOUSLY,
1. Decides to join the applications;
2. Declares the applications admissible;
3. Holds that these applications disclose a breach of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 concerning the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions;
4. Holds that the respondent State shall ensure, by appropriate means, within three months, the enforcement of the pending domestic decisions referred to in the appended table;
5. Holds
(a) that the respondent State is to pay the applicants, within three months, the amounts indicated in the appended table, to be converted into the currency of the respondent State at the rate applicable at the date of settlement;
(b) that from the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement simple interest shall be payable on the above amounts 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 27 June 2019, pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.
Liv TigerstedtStéphanie Mourou-Vikström
Acting Deputy RegistrarPresident
APPENDIX
List of applications raising complaints under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of the Protocol No. 1
(non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions)
No.
Application no.
Date of introduction
Applicant’s name
Date of birth
Relevant domestic decision
Start date of non-enforcement period
End date of non‑enforcement period
Length of enforcement proceedings
Amount awarded for non-pecuniary damage per applicant (in euros)[1]
Amount awarded for costs and expenses per application
(in euros)[2]
44080/16
20/07/2016
Izet Balić
05/01/1970
Mostar First Instance Court, 14/06/2012
17/01/2014
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 13 day(s)
1,000
350
44091/16
20/07/2016
Hasnija Kisić
30/05/1970
Mostar Cantonal Court, 14/10/2010
03/02/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 27 day(s)
1,000
350
44107/16
20/07/2016
Alija Baljić
24/02/1965
Mostar Cantonal Court, 28/02/2011
28/04/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 2 day(s)
1,000
350
44133/16
20/07/2016
Armin Demić
02/12/1970
Ivan Zovko
20/10/1964
Mostar Cantonal Court, 11/08/2010
28/10/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 2 day(s)
1,000
350
44199/16
19/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Adis Čomor
06/03/1977
Zuhra Elezović
01/01/1953
Almira Šuta
06/06/1979
Esad Aličić
12/01/1968
Mostar Cantonal Court, 21/10/2010
Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12/07/2011
08/03/2011
05/03/2012
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 22 day(s)
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 25 day(s)
1,000
350
44201/16
19/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Sedin Budim
30/11/1973
Alija Makan
11/02/1951
Vladimir Boltar
30/12/1967
Nermin Hondo
19/09/1966
Mostar Cantonal Court, 30/09/2010
18/01/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 12 day(s)
1,000
350
44288/16
20/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Semir Balta
24/03/1962
Evelina Hasandedić
29/10/1962
Razija Tanović
20/08/1946
Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010
11/08/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 19 day(s)
1,000
350
44290/16
19/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Slađan Goluža
27/10/1966
Ilija Rozić
07/10/1958
Miloš Vuković
22/12/1983
Nikica Šimunović
06/10/1968
Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/01/2010
21/04/2010
pending
More than 9 year(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
44335/16
19/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Miralem Čopelj
12/11/1969
Aleksandar Ružičić
30/06/1981
Dževad Maksumić
06/06/1978
Mostar Cantonal Court, 19/05/2010
30/08/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s)
1,000
350
44338/16
19/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Ivica Arapović
21/01/1957
Salem Mehić
22/07/1953
Mustafa Gakić
02/11/1967
Almir Karkelja
20/05/1974
Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/11/2010
08/02/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 22 day(s)
1,000
350
44340/16
19/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Emin Bilal
03/01/1971
Semir Tojaga
16/08/1968
Živko Janjić
11/08/1981
Admir Kaplan
22/06/1967
Mostar Cantonal Court, 01/10/2010
22/04/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 day(s)
1,000
350
44451/16
20/07/2016
Darko Bebek
16/06/1973
Edin Mujić
14/11/1974
Mostar First Instance Court, 17/09/2010
06/12/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 24 day(s)
1,000
350
44498/16
20/07/2016
Kemal Veledar
23/11/1975
Mostar Cantonal Court, 18/08/2010
10/02/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 20 day(s)
1,000
350
44510/16
20/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Asim Maksumić
01/02/1970
Mustafa Šemić
14/05/1965
Osman Tule
17/05/1968
Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/11/2010
29/03/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 1 day(s)
1,000
350
44559/16
20/07/2016
Belmin Šunje
14/10/1971
Mostar Cantonal Court, 17/06/2010
18/01/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 12 day(s)
1,000
350
44574/16
20/07/2016
Sead Čobić
15/04/1968
Enes Maksumić
11/08/1969
Mostar Cantonal Court, 27/05/2010
30/08/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s)
1,000
350
44587/16
20/07/2016
Božidar Rozić
25/11/1965
Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010
08/12/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 22 day(s)
1,000
350
45271/16
19/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Senad Elezović
27/02/1964
Ramiz Hasić
25/02/1961
Nermin Salčin
06/01/1975
Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/09/2010
24/02/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 6 day(s)
1,000
350
45394/16
19/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Osman Bobar
17/07/1959
Semir Bašinac
03/01/1972
Fahrudin Sabitović
10/03/1971
Mostar Cantonal Court, 06/05/2010
09/09/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 21 day(s)
1,000
350
45455/16
19/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Ferdo Buntić
23/09/1962
Mirsad Mičijević
08/05/1966
Ćamil Šahinagić
07/08/1975
Petar Golemac
10/11/1958
Mostar Cantonal Court, 01/04/2010
27/09/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 3 day(s)
1,000
350
45661/16
19/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Asim Džafić
10/04/1967
Sulejman Ćorić
25/03/1962
Vaso Kisić
12/10/1968
Gordan Zovko
22/10/1970
Mostar Cantonal Court, 27/05/2010
24/09/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 6 day(s)
1,000
350
46998/16
19/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Omer Stiglić
14/10/1953
Armin Sjekirica
08/05/1988
Zdravko Martinović
21/03/1961
Mostar First Instance Court, 20/09/2010
22/02/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 8 day(s)
1,000
350
47001/16
19/07/2016
Ismet Đipa
11/10/1969
Mostar First Instance Court, 18/11/2010
21/12/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
47018/16
18/07/2016
Hamid Teletović
01/01/1997
Nusret Maksumić
01/11/1966
Mostar Cantonal Court, 08/09/2010
15/12/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 15 day(s)
1,000
350
47024/16
18/07/2016
Sanela Krhan
14/09/1969
Mostar First Instance Court, 30/12/2009
24/12/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 6 day(s)
1,000
350
47026/16
18/07/2016
Ivanka Prusina
11/02/1963
Mostar First Instance Court, 24/02/2014
10/06/2015
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 20 day(s)
1,000
350
47069/16
19/07/2016
Ibrahim Nikšić
06/06/1970
Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/11/2010
24/05/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 6 day(s)
1,000
350
47084/16
19/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Pavo Burić
05/09/1961
Adnan Padalović
01/07/1973
Ibro Bubalo
27/10/1971
Anto Miličević
16/08/1955
Mostar Cantonal Court, 22/06/2011
09/11/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s)
1,000
350
47087/16
19/07/2016
Almir Cokoja
13/01/1965
Ismail Kadić
11/05/1973
Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/02/2011
06/04/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 24 day(s)
1,000
350
47180/16
18/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Kemal Đono
11/02/1961
Omer Hebib
27/07/1959
Senad Grizović
26/09/1972
Alen Omanić
14/01/1977
Mostar Cantonal Court, 11/08/2010
20/12/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 10 day(s)
1,000
350
47231/16
18/07/2016
Milenko Drinovac
19/04/1972
Fahrudin Gusić
22/11/1967
Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/08/2010
11/11/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 19 day(s)
1,000
350
47246/16
18/07/2016
Zaim Ćorić
10/04/1971
Mostar Cantonal Court, 26/01/2011
29/03/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 1 day(s)
1,000
350
47354/16
18/07/2016
Mate Primorac
28/12/1969
Mostar Cantonal Court, 09/02/2011
12/07/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
47357/16
18/07/2016
Safet Puce
01/10/1965
Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/09/2010
07/03/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 23 day(s)
1,000
350
47361/16
18/07/2016
Miralem Brajević
16/08/1968
Vido Marić
31/10/1975
Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/05/2010
26/08/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 4 day(s)
1,000
350
47729/16
18/07/2016
(5 applicants)
Karmela Petković
21/11/1963
Slavka Krtalić
15/10/1956
Irena Zadro
01/09/1965
Branka Vidačak
09/01/1962
Ivka Pravidur
15/10/1956
Mostar First Instance Court, 07/07/2011
30/11/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 5 month(s)
1,000
350
47759/16
18/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Miro Boras
25/09/1979
Nermin Kuko
02/04/1972
Zijo Đulić
15/03/1962
Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010
28/09/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 2 day(s)
1,000
350
47760/16
18/07/2016
Devleta Bećirspahić
09/12/1981
Mostar Cantonal Court, 06/04/2010
23/08/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 7 day(s)
1,000
350
[1]. Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.
[2]. Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.
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