EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Application No. 20028/92
Paulina A.M.M. Dupont and Anton C. van Idsinga
against
the Netherlands
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
(adopted on 21 February 1995)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I. INTRODUCTION
(paras. 1 - 5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FACTS
(paras. 6 - 11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
III. OPINION OF THE COMMISSION
(paras. 12 - 30). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
A. Complaint declared admissible
(para. 12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
B. Points at issue
(para. 13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
C. As regards Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention
(paras. 14 - 28) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1. Length of the proceedings
(paras. 16 - 25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Conclusion
(para. 26) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2. Fair hearing
(para. 27) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Conclusion
(para. 28) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
D. Recapitulation
(paras. 29 - 30) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
APPENDIX : DECISION OF THE COMMISSION AS TO THE ADMISSIBILITY
OF THE APPLICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The present Report concerns Application No. 20028/92 introduced
on 30 March 1992 against the Netherlands and registered on 22 May 1992.
The applicants are both Dutch nationals. The first applicant was
born in 1945 and resides in Tilburg. The second applicant was born in
1948 and resides in Rotterdam. The applicants are represented before
the Commission by Mrs. J. Hermelink-Kramer, a lawyer employed by the
Stichting Rechtsbijstand Gezondheidszorg at Utrecht.
The respondent Government are represented by their Agent,
Mr. Karel de Vey Mestdagh, of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
2. The application was communicated to the Government on
6 January 1993. Following an exchange of written observations, the
complaint relating to the length of proceedings (Article 6 para. 1 of
the Convention) was declared admissible on 18 October 1993. The
decision on admissibility is appended to this Report.
3. Having noted that there is no basis upon which a friendly
settlement within the meaning of Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the
Convention can be secured, the Commission, after deliberating, adopted
this Report on 21 February 1995 in accordance with Article 31 para. 1
of the Convention, the following members being present:
MM. C.A. NØRGAARD, President
H. DANELIUS
C.L. ROZAKIS
G. JÖRUNDSSON
S. TRECHSEL
A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK
A. WEITZEL
J.-C. SOYER
H.G. SCHERMERS
Mrs. G.H. THUNE
Mr. F. MARTINEZ
Mrs. J. LIDDY
MM. L. LOUCAIDES
J.-C. GEUS
M.P. PELLONPÄÄ
B. MARXER
M.A. NOWICKI
I. CABRAL BARRETO
B. CONFORTI
I. BÉKÉS
J. MUCHA
D. SVÁBY
E. KONSTANTINOV
G. RESS
4. In this Report the Commission states its opinion as to whether
the facts found disclose a violation of the Convention by the
Netherlands.
5. The text of the Report is now transmitted to the Committee of
Ministers of the Council of Europe, in accordance with Article 31
para. 2 of the Convention.
II. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FACTS
6. In their application, in which they rely on Article 6 para. 1 of
the Convention, the applicants complain of the length of the
proceedings concerning their obligation to pay social security
contributions.
7. Following a policy change in the Occupational Association for
Health, Mental and Social Well-being (Bedrijfsvereniging voor de
Gezondheid, Geestelijke en Maatschappelijke Belangen, hereinafter
referred to as "BVG") - which is entrusted with the administration of
the social security system of the sector concerned and, inter alia,
fixes and receives social security contributions - certain work
relations, such as in the case of the applicants, were considered to
fall under the rules on social security.
8. Consequently, on 23 December 1985 the second applicant, and on
25 August 1986 the first applicant, were requested to pay social
security premiums.
9. Pursuant to the appeal procedure under the Appeals Act
(Beroepswet) the applicants requested the BVG to issue a formal
decision (voor beroep vatbare beslissing) which is required for the
lodging of an appeal with the Appeals Tribunal (Raad van Beroep)
against a decision of the BVG. The first applicant requested the BVG
to issue such a decision on 14 September 1986, but it was not issued
until almost two and a half years later, on 3 March 1989. The second
applicant asked for a decision on 27 January 1986, but it was not
issued until almost three years and four months later, on 17 May 1989.
10. The first applicant's appeal of 22 March 1989 to the Appeals
Tribunal of 's-Hertogenbosch was rejected on 2 August 1990 and her
further appeal was rejected by the Central Appeals Tribunal (Centrale
Raad van Beroep) on 2 October 1991.
11. The second applicant's appeal of 5 June 1989 to the Appeals
Tribunal of Rotterdam was rejected on 20 August 1990 and his further
appeal was rejected by the Central Appeals Tribunal on 2 October 1991.
III. OPINION OF THE COMMISSION
A. Complaint declared admissible
12. The Commission has declared admissible the applicants' complaint
that they did not receive a fair hearing within a reasonable time.
B. Points at issue
13. Accordingly, the issues to be determined are:
- whether there has been a violation of Article 6 para. 1
(Art. 6-1) of the Convention as regards the length of the
proceedings; and,
- whether there has been a violation of Article 6 para. 1
(Art. 6-1) of the Convention as regards the fairness of the
proceedings.
C. As regards Article 6 para. 1 (Art. 6-1) of the Convention
14. The relevant part of Article 6 para. 1 (Art. 6-1) of the
Convention provides as follows :
"In the determination of his civil rights and obligations ...,
everyone is entitled to a fair... hearing within a reasonable
time by (a) ... tribunal ..."
15. The proceedings in question concerned the applicants' obligation
to pay social security contributions. The purpose of the proceedings
was to obtain a decision in a dispute over "civil rights and
obligations", and they accordingly fall within the scope of Article 6
para. 1 (Art. 6-1) of the Convention (see Eur. Court H.R., Schouten and
Meldrum judgment of 9 December 1994, to be published in Series A no.
304, paras. 49-60).
1. Length of the proceedings
16. In respect of the first applicant, these proceedings began on
14 September 1986, when she requested the BVG to issue a formal
decision (see, Eur. Court H.R., Schouten and Meldrum judgment, loc.
cit., para. 62), and ended on 2 October 1991, when the Central Appeals
Tribunal rejected her appeal. They thus lasted five years and eighteen
days.
17. As regards the second applicant, these proceedings began on
27 January 1986, when he requested the BVG to issue a formal decision,
and ended on 2 October 1991, when the Central Appeals Tribunal rejected
his appeal. They thus lasted five years, eight months and five days.
18. The applicants submit that the length of the proceedings exceeded
a reasonable time in view of the period of time which elapsed between
the day on which they requested the BVG to issue a formal decision and
the day on which this formal decision was issued.
19. The Government submit that the respective proceedings before the
Appeals Tribunal and the Central Appeals Tribunal cannot be regarded
as unreasonably long. They further submit that the applicants have
failed to take any steps in order to expedite the issue of the formal
decision by the BVG, such as by requesting the BVG to expedite the
issue of this decision, by complaining about the delay caused by the
BVG to the Social Security Council (Sociale Verzekeringsraad), or by
starting summary proceedings (kort geding) before the civil courts.
20. The Commission recalls that the reasonableness of proceedings
must be assessed in the light of the particular circumstances of the
case and with the help of the following criteria: the complexity of the
case, the conduct of the parties and the conduct of the authorities
dealing with the case (see Eur. Court H.R., Vernillo judgment of
20 February 1991, Series A no. 198, p. 12, para. 30).
21. The Commission notes that the applicants could not obtain any
examination by a tribunal until they had obtained a formal decision
from the BVG. It does not find it established that the procedures
suggested by the Government in order to expedite the issue of a formal
decision could have improved their position.
22. The Commission notes the existence of a period of inactivity
imputable to the State between the date on which the applicants
requested the BVG to issue a formal decision and the date on which the
BVG provided the applicants with a formal decision. In the case of the
first applicant, this delay lasted almost two and a half years, i.e.
between 14 September 1986 and 3 March 1989, and, in the case of the
second applicant, this delay lasted almost three years and four months,
i.e. between 27 January 1986 and 17 May 1989.
23. It considers that no convincing explanation for this delay has
been advanced by the respondent Government.
24. The Commission reaffirms that it is for Contracting States to
organise their legal systems in such a way that their courts can
guarantee the right of everyone to obtain a final decision on disputes
relating to civil rights and obligations within a reasonable time
(cf. Eur. Court H.R., Vocaturo judgment of 24 May 1991, Series A
no. 206-C, p. 32, para. 17).
25. In the light of the criteria established by case-law and having
regard to the circumstances of the present case, the Commission
considers that the length of the proceedings at issue was excessive and
failed to meet the "reasonable time" requirement.
Conclusion
26. The Commission concludes, unanimously, that there has been a
violation of Article 6 para. 1 (Art. 6-1) of the Convention as regards
the length of the proceedings.
Fair hearing
27. As to the question whether or not the applicants were deprived
of a fair hearing as a result of the delay caused by the BVG, the
Commission, noting that it has not appeared that in the proceedings at
issue the applicants were prevented from presenting whatever arguments
they considered relevant, finds that it has not been established that
the delay caused by the BVG affected the fairness of these proceedings
(Eur. Court H.R., Schouten and Meldrum judgment, loc.cit., para. 71).
Conclusion
28. The Commission concludes, unanimously, that there has been no
violation of Article 6 para. 1 (Art. 6-1) of the Convention as regards
the fairness of the proceedings.
D. Recapitulation
29. The Commission concludes, unanimously, that there has been a
violation of Article 6 para. 1 (Art. 6-1) of the Convention as regards
the length of the proceedings (para. 26 above).
30. The Commission concludes, unanimously, that there has been no
violation of Article 6 para. 1 (Art. 6-1) of the Convention as regards
the fairness of the proceedings (para. 28 above).
Secretary to the Commission President of the Commission
(H.C. KRÜGER) (C.A. NØRGAARD)
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy