EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
FIRST CHAMBER
Application No. 16941/90
R. K. E.
against
Austria
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
(adopted on 13 April 1994)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PART I : STATEMENT OF THE FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
PART II : SOLUTION REACHED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
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 R. K. E. against Austria on
19 June 1990. It was registered on 27 July 1990 under file
No. 16941/90.
The applicant was represented by Mr. Christian Slana, a lawyer
practising in Linz.
The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent,
Ambassador F. Cede, Head of the International Law Department at the
Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. The application relates to the length of proceedings before the
Chamber of the Linz Customs Authority (Spruchsenat des Zollamtes). On
31 March 1993 the Commission (First Chamber) declared the application
admissible.
3. The Commission 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."
4. The Commission (First Chamber) found that the parties had reached
a friendly settlement of the case and on 13 April 1994 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. A. WEITZEL, President
C.L. ROZAKIS
F. ERMACORA
E. BUSUTTIL
A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK
Mrs. J. LIDDY
MM. M.P. PELLONPÄÄ
B. MARXER
B. CONFORTI
N. BRATZA
I. BÉKÉS
E. KONSTANTINOV
PART I
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
5. The applicant is an Austrian citizen, born in 1956 and resident
at Klam, Austria.
6. The applicant was questioned on 10 November 1984 in connection
with failure to present 39 parcels of watches for customs clearance and
the offence of breaking customs seals. On 30 May 1986 a penal notice
(Strafverfügung) was issued by the Linz Customs Authority (Zollamt)
accusing the applicant of various customs offences under the Code of
Financial Offences (Finanzstrafgesetz). A fine of AS 25,000 was
imposed with 50 days' detention in default. The applicant filed an
objection to the penal notice and "full" proceedings were opened before
a Chamber (Spruchsenat) of the Customs Authority. The proceedings
ended on 22 May 1991 with a decision of the Chamber to convict the
applicant in respect of non-compliance with tax regulations and
attempted smuggling. He was fined AS 20,000 with a compensation order
of AS 10,000 and costs. The charges of breaking customs seals were
dismissed for lack of evidence. The applicant did not appeal.
PART II
SOLUTION REACHED
7. Following the decision on the admissibility of the application,
the Commission (First Chamber) 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.
8. In accordance with the usual practice, the Chamber Secretary,
acting on the Commission's instructions, contacted the parties to
explore the possibilities of reaching a friendly settlement.
9. By letter of 3 March 1994 the Government submitted the following
declaration made by both parties on the terms of the settlement.
[Translation]
"Declaration of the parties to the friendly settlement
The parties to the present application pending before the
European Commission of Human Rights agree the following friendly
settlement:
1. The Republic of Austria will pay to the applicant the sum of
AS 50,000 (including the sum of AS 27,198 by way of costs) as
compensation in respect of any possible claims relating to the
present application.
2. The applicant declares the present application to be settled.
3. The applicant waives any further claims against the Republic
of Austria relating to the present application.
4. On payment of the compensation monies, the applicant will
forthwith and without demand provide the Republic of Austria with
written confirmation of receipt."
[German]
"Erklärung der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung
In dem gegenständlichen, vor der Europäischen Kommission für
Menschenrechte anhängigen Verfahren verständigen sich die Parteien auf
die nachstehende gütliche Regelung:
1. Die Republik Österreich bezahlt dem Beschwerdeführer als
Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaigen Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit
der gegenständlichen Beschwerde einen Betrag von öS 50.000,--
(darin enthalten ein Betrag von öS 27.198,-- an Prozeßkosten).
2. Der Beschwerdeführer erklärt seine oben genannte Beschwerde
für erledigt.
3. Der Beschwerdeführer verzichtet auf die Geltendmachung
allfälliger weiterer im Zusammenhang mit der gegenständlichen
Beschwerdesache stehender Forderungen gegen die Republik
Österreich.
4. Der Beschwerdeführer wird der Republik Österreich
unmittelbar nach Auszahlung der Entschädigungssumme
unaufgefordert eine Bestätigung über deren Erhalt ausstellen."
10. At its session on 13 April 1994, the Commission noted that the
parties had reached an agreement regarding the terms of a settlement.
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.
11. For these reasons, the Commission adopted the present Report.
Secretary to the First Chamber President of the First Chamber
(M.F. BUQUICCHIO) (A. WEITZEL)
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy