CEDH · CASELAW;REPORTS;ENG — 5 juillet 1993

.sDD6737AE { font-size:11pt } .s211D6B00 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:normal; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:8.5pt } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial }                        EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS                                FIRST CHAMBER                          Application No. 18305/91                  Karl Pichler sen. and Karl Pichler jun.                                   against                                   Austria                          REPORT OF THE COMMISSION                          (adopted on 5 July 1993)                              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 Karl Pichler sen. and Karl Pichler jun. against Austria on 19 April 1991.   It was registered on 4 June 1991 under file No. 18305/91.         The applicants were represented by Mr. M. Ganzert, a lawyer practising in Wels.         The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent, Ambassador H. Türk, then Head of the International Law Department at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   2.     On 10 February 1993 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."   3.     The Commission (First Chamber) found that the parties had reached a friendly settlement of the case and on 5 July 1993 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:                Sir   Basil HALL, Acting President of the First Chamber              MM.   F. ERMACORA                   A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK                   C.L. ROZAKIS              Mrs. J. LIDDY              MM.   M. PELLONPÄÄ                   B. MARXER                   G.B. REFFI                   B. CONFORTI                                   PART I                           STATEMENT OF THE FACTS   4.     The first applicant, born in 1928, is an Austrian national and resident at Leonding in Austria.   The second applicant, the first applicant's son born in 1953, is also an Austrian national and resident at Marchtrenk in Austria.   5.     The applicants complained under Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention about the length of criminal proceedings concerning in particular the charge of receiving property obtained by tax evasion (Abgabenhehlerei) within the meaning of the Austrian Code of Tax Offences (Finanzstrafgesetz).   The proceedings were instituted against the applicants in 1981.   They terminated in 1991.                                   PART II                              SOLUTION REACHED   6.     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.   7.     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.   8.     By letters of 11 and 18 June 1993, respectively, the applicants and the respondent Government submitted the following agreement reached between them:   <Translation>       "Statements of the parties with a view of 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. 18305/91, lodged by Mr. Karl Pichler sen. and Mr. Karl Pichler jun., declare with a view to a friendly settlement, reached with assistance of the European Commission of Human Rights, as follows:         1.    The Government of the Republic of Austria will pay to the       applicants a sum amounting to altogether AS 180,000 as       compensation in respect of any possible claims relating to the       present application.   This sum includes AS 30,000 in respect of       counsel's fees and expenses incurred in the proceedings before       the Commission.         This amount will be paid to the applicants' representative       Mr. M. Ganzert in Wels.         2.    The applicants declare their application settled.         3.    The applicants waive any further claims against the       Republic of Austria relating to the present application."   <German>              "Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung         In der Individualbeschwerde Nr. 18305/91 der Herren Karl Pichler sen. and Karl Pichler jun. verständigen sich die Parteien unter Bezugnahme auf Artikel 28 Abs. 1 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 den Beschwerdeführern       als Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaige Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit       der vorliegenden Individualbeschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von       AS 180,000.   Dieser Betrag umfaßt AS 30,000 hinsichtlich der       Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen des Verfahren vor der       Kommission entstanden sind.         Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten der       Beschwerdeführer Herrn M. Ganzert in Wels überwiesen.         2.    Die Beschwerdeführer erklären ihre oben genannte Beschwerde       als erledigt.         3.    Die Beschwerdeführer verzichten auf die Geltendmachung       allfälliger weiterer Forderungen gegen die Republik Österreich       im Zusammenhang mit dem der Beschwerde zugrundeliegenden       Sachverhalt."   9.     At its session on 5 July 1993, the Commission (First Chamber) 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.   10.    For these reasons, the Commission (First Chamber) adopted this Report.              Secretary to the                  Acting President of the             First Chamber                          First Chamber             (M. F. BUQUICCHIO)                     (SIR BASIL HALL)