EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Application No. 14093/88
Herbert MOOSMANN
against
AUSTRIA
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
(adopted on 9 July 1992)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION ............................................. 1
PART I: STATEMENT OF THE FACTS .......................... 2
PART II: SOLUTION REACHED ................................ 3
INTRODUCTION
1. This Report relates to the application introduced under
Article 25 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by Herbert MOOSMANN against Austria on
22 July 1988. It was registered on 2 August 1988 under file
No. 14093/88.
The applicant was represented by Mr. W.L. Weh, a lawyer
practising in Bregenz.
The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent,
Ambassador H. Türk, Head of the International Law Department at the
Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. On 15 October 1991 the Commission declared the application
admissible. It then proceeded to carry out its task under
Article 28 para. 1 of the Convention which provides as follows:
"In the event of the Commission accepting a petition referred to
it:
a. it shall, with a view to ascertaining the facts, undertake
together with the representatives of the parties an
examination of the petition and, if need be, an
investigation, for the effective conduct of which the
States concerned shall furnish all necessary facilities,
after an exchange of views with the Commission;
b. it shall at the same time place itself at the disposal of
the parties concerned with a view to securing a friendly
settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for Human
Rights as defined in this Convention."
3. The Commission found that the parties had reached a friendly
settlement of the case and on 9 July 1992 it adopted this Report,
which, in accordance with Article 28 para. 2 of the Convention, is
confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached.
The following members were present when the Report was adopted:
MM. C.A. NØRGAARD, President
J.A. FROWEIN
S. TRECHSEL
E. BUSUTTIL
A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK
A. WEITZEL
J.-C. SOYER
H.G. SCHERMERS
H. DANELIUS
Mrs. G. H. THUNE
Sir Basil HALL
Mr. F. MARTINEZ
Mrs. J. LIDDY
MM. J.-C. GEUS
M.P. PELLONPÄÄ
B. MARXER
PART I
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
4. The applicant is an Austrian national and resident in Bregenz.
5. The applicant complained under Article 10 of the Convention that
wooden crosses, which he and other members of an "Action Committee
Survival" (Bürgerinitiative Überleben) had erected as a protest against
a road construction project, had despite objections been removed at the
request of a public official. He considered that his right to freedom
of expression was thereby violated.
PART II
SOLUTION REACHED
6. Following the decision on the admissibility of the application,
the Commission placed itself at the disposal of the parties with a view
to securing a friendly settlement in accordance with
Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention and invited the parties to
submit any proposals they wished to make.
7. In accordance with the usual practice, the Commission's
Secretary, acting on the Commission's instructions, contacted the
parties to explore the possibilities of reaching a friendly settlement.
8. Following an exchange of correspondence the Commission, by letter
of 29 June 1992, requested the parties to confirm that they had reached
the following friendly settlement:
(German)
"1. Dem Beschwerdeführer Herbert MOOSMANN, wohnhaft
in 6923 LAUTERACH, Achstraße 15 a, wird je zur
Hälfte vom Land und vom Bund (Bundesministerium
für wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten) eine
Entschädigungssumme insgesamt von AS 80.280,--,
(für Kosten des innerstaatlichen Verfahrens und
im Verfahren vor der Europäischen Kommission für
Menschenrechte) auf das Konto seines Vertreters,
Rechtsanwalt Dr. Ludwig WEH, Nr. 19770117, bei
der Hypothekenbank des Landes Vorarlberg,
Bregenz, zur treuhändigen Verwaltung gezahlt.
Dieser Betrag ist von Rechtsanwalt Dr. Ludwig
Weh zu verwalten, bis vorliegender Vergleich von
der Kommission gebilligt ist.
2. Die Republik Österreich
(Bundesstraßenverwaltung) räumt dem
Beschwerdeführer ein besonderes Anhörungsrecht
in einem allfälligen Verfahren nach § 4 des
Bundesstraßengesetzes in der Form ein, daß der
Beschwerdeführer über die Einleitung eines
Verfahrens gemäß § 4 des Bundesstraßengesetzes
persönlich informiert wird und zur Abgabe einer
Stellungnahme eingeladen wird.
3. Voraussetzung für die Auszahlung von AS 40.140--
durch die Buchhaltung des Bundesministeriums für
wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten ist, daß keine
Abgabenforderungen des Bundes gegen den
Beschwerdeführer bestehen.
4. Der Beschwerdeführer und die Republik Österreich
erklären, daß sie nach Erfüllung der Punkte 1
bis 3 keinerlei Ansprüche geltend machen werden,
die in irgendeiner Weise mit dem Gegenstand der
Menschenrechtsbeschwerde Nr. 14.093/88 vor der
Europäischen Kommission für Menschenrechte im
Zusammenhang stehen and zwar weder im Wege eines
Verfahrens vor einer österreichischen Behörde
noch vor einer internationalen Instanz."
(English translation)
"1. The applicant Herbert MOOSMANN, living in 6923
LAUTERACH, Achstraße 15 a, will be paid Austrian
Shillings 80.280,-- (relating to costs of the
domestic proceedings and the proceedings before
the European Commission of Human Rights). This
sum will be paid in equal amounts both by the
Regional State (Land) and the Federal State
(Bund) (Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs).
It will be paid into the account number 19770117
at the Hypothekenbank des Landes Vorarlberg,
Bregenz, opened in the name of Mr. Ludwig WEH,
applicant's counsel. He will administer the
money as a trustee until the present friendly
settlement has been approved by the Commission.
2. The Austrian Republic (Federal Road
Administration) grants the applicant a special
right to be heard in any proceedings under
Section 4 of the Federal Road Act
(Bundesstraßengesetz). This means that the
applicant will be personally informed about the
institution of the proceedings under Section 4
of the Federal Road Act and will be invited to
submit observations.
3. Austrian Shillings 40.140-- will be paid out by
the treasury of the Federal Ministry for
Economic Affairs under the condition only that
the Federation has no fiscal claims against the
applicant.
4. The applicant and the Republic of Austria
declare that once paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this
settlement have been complied with, they will
not raise any more claims before Austrian or
international instances relating in any way to
the subject matter of the application
no. 14093/88 before the European Commission of
Human Rights."
9. At its session on 9 July 1992, the Commission noted that the
parties had returned signed copies of the above agreement. It further
considered, having regard to Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention,
that the friendly settlement of the case had been secured on the basis
of respect for Human Rights as defined in the Convention.
10. For these reasons, the Commission adopted this Report.
Secretary to the Commission President of the Commission
(H.C. KRÜGER) (C.A. NØRGAARD)
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy