SCHELLING v. AUSTRIA



              EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

                         FIRST CHAMBER

                   Application No. 28838/95

                       Richard Schelling

                            against

                            Austria

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

                 (adopted on 21 January 1998)

                       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 Mr Richard Schelling against Austria

on 25 September 1995.  It was registered on 3 October 1995 under file

No. 28838/95.

2.   The applicant is represented by Mr W.L. Weh, a lawyer practising

in Bregenz.

3.   The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent,

Mr F. Cede, Ambassador, Head of the International Law Department at the

Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

4.   On 27 February 1997 the Commission (First Chamber) 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."

5.   The Commission (First Chamber) found that the parties had reached

a friendly settlement of the case and on 21 January 1998 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.

6.   The following members were present when the Report was adopted:

          MM   N. BRATZA, Acting President

               E. BUSUTTIL

               A. WEITZEL

               C.L. ROZAKIS

          Mrs  J. LIDDY

          MM   L. LOUCAIDES

               B. MARXER

               B. CONFORTI

               I. BÉKÉS

               A. PERENIC

               C. BÎRSAN

               M. VILA AMIGÓ

          Mrs  M. HION

          Mr   R. NICOLINI

                            PART I

                    STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

7.   The applicant, an Austrian citizen residing in Langenegg

(Austria), is a farmer. He complains under Article 6 para. 1 (Art. 6-1)

of the Convention about the length of the following proceedings.

8.   In August 1988 the applicant requested permissions under the

Water Act (Wasserrechtsgesetz) and the Landscape Protection Act

(Landschaftsschutzgesetz) which were necessary for putting a culvert

through a drain on his land.  On 21 June 1990 the Bregenz District

Administrative Authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) refused the requested

permissions.  On 12 December 1990 the Vorarlberg Regional Governor

(Landeshauptmann) granted the requested permission under the Water Act.

The Vorarlberg Regional Government (Landesregierung), however, on

2 April 1991 dismissed the applicant's appeal insofar it concerned the

request for a permission under the Landscape Protection Act. On

28 May 1991 the applicant introduced a complaint with the

Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) against the Regional

Government's decision.  On 6 May 1996 the Administrative Court quashed

the Regional Government's decision and remitted the case to the latter.

The proceedings are still pending.

                            PART II

                       SOLUTION REACHED

9.   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.

10.  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.

11.  By letter of 1 September 1997 and 9 December 1997 respectively,

the parties submitted the following agreement reached between them:

     "Statements of the parties with a view to a friendly settlement

     With reference to Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the European

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

the parties in the proceedings concerning Application No. 28838/95,

lodged by Mr Richard Schelling, declare with a view to a friendly

settlement, reached with the assistance of the European Commission of

Human Rights, as follows:

     1.   The Government of the Republic of Austria will pay to the

     applicant a sum of altogether AS 35,000 as compensation in

     respect of any possible claims relating to the present

     application.  This sum includes AS 15,000 in respect of counsel's

     fees and expenses incurred in the proceedings before the

     Commission.

          This amount will be paid to the applicant's representative

     Mr Wilfried Ludwig Weh in Bregenz.

     2.   The applicant declares his application settled.

     3.   The applicant waives any further claims against the

     Republic of Austria relating to the facts underlying the present

     application."

     "Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung

     In der Beschwerdesache Nr. 28838/95 des Herrn Richard Schelling

einigen sich die Parteien unter Bezugnahme auf Artikel 28 Abs. 1 lit. b

der Europäischen Konvention zum Schutze der Menschenrechte und

Grundfreiheiten und unter Mitwirkung der Europäischen Kommission für

Menschenrechte auf die nachstehende gütliche Regelung:

     1.   Die österreichische Regierung zahlt dem Beschwerdeführer

     als Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaige Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit

     der vorliegenden Beschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von öS 35 000.

     Dieser Betrag umfaßt öS 15 000 hinsichtlich der Gebühren und

     Auslagen, die im Rahmen des Verfahrens vor der Kommission

     entstanden sind.

          Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten des

     Beschwerdeführers Herrn Rechtsanwalt Dr. Wilfried Ludwig Weh in

     Bregenz überwiesen.

     2.   Der Beschwerdeführer erklärt seine oben genannte Beschwerde

     als erledigt.

     3.   Der Beschwerdeführer verzichtet auf die Geltendmachung

     allfälliger weiterer Forderungen gegen die Republik Österreich

     im Zusammenhang mit dem der Beschwerde zugrundeliegenden

     Sachverhalt."

12.  At its session on 21 January 1998, 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.

13.  For these reasons, the Commission adopted the present Report.

     M.F. BUQUICCHIO                         N. BRATZA

        Secretary                         Acting President

   to the First Chamber                 of the First Chamber

 

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