CEDH · CASELAW;REPORTS;ENG — 9 mars 1994

.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                               SECOND CHAMBER                          Application No. 16494/90                              Elisabeth Schober                                   against                                   Austria                          REPORT OF THE COMMISSION                          (adopted on 9 March 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 Elisabeth Schober against Austria on 11 April 1990.   It was registered on 24 April 1990 under file No. 16494/90.         The applicant was represented by Mr. A. Friedberg, lawyer, Vienna.         The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent, Mr. Franz Cede.   2.     On 2 December 1991 the Commission (Second Chamber) declared the application partially inadmissible.   The complaint under Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention concerning the length of the two sets of proceedings involved was declared admissible on 1 September 1993. The Chamber 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 (Second Chamber) found that the parties had reached a friendly settlement of the case and on 9 March 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.   S. TRECHSEL, President            H. DANELIUS            G. JÖRUNDSSON            J.-C. SOYER            H.G. SCHERMERS       Mrs. G.H. THUNE       MM.   F. MARTINEZ            L. LOUCAIDES            J.-C. GEUS            M.A. NOWICKI            I. CABRAL BARRETO            J. MUCHA            D. SVÁBY                                   PART I                           STATEMENT OF THE FACTS   4.     The applicant is an Austrian citizen, born in 1954 and resident in Steyr.   5.     The applicant's maternal grandmother died on 5 December 1983. She left the bulk of her estate to her son with provision for only the "reserved portion" to pass to her daughter, the applicant's mother. The applicant's mother made a declaration to the St. Peter District Court (Bezirksgericht) on 16 December 1983 that she was entitled to and claimed the reserved portion.   On 23 January 1984 the applicant's mother died.   The applicant thenceforth took the place of her mother in the proceedings.   The non-contentious proceedings under the Hereditary Farms Act (Anerbengesetz) are still pending.   6.     In proceedings independent of the above, the applicant on 7 September 1984 introduced proceedings against her uncle for the amount due to her under her mother's estate.   On 7 December 1984 the District Court adjourned the proceedings until the courts had finally decided whether the applicant's grandmother's estate was or was not an hereditary farm.   These proceedings are also still pending.                                   PART II                              SOLUTION REACHED   7.     Following the decision on the admissibility of the application, the Commission (Second 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.     Following an exchange of correspondence, the Commission considered the question of a settlement on 7 December 1993, and made specific settlement proposals.   The terms were included in a Declaration which was returned to the Commission by the applicant on 26 January 1994 and by the Government on 27 January 1994.   The settlement provided as follows:   [Translation]      "Declaration by the parties with a view to a friendly settlement         In connection with Application No. 16494/90 by Ms. Elisabeth Schober, the parties, with reference to Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the European Convention on Human Rights and with the assistance of the European Commission of Human Rights, agree as follows:         1.    The Government of the Republic of Austria will pay to the       applicant a sum amounting to altogether AS 75,000 as compensation       in respect of any possible claims relating to the present       application.   This sum includes AS 30,000 in respect of costs and       expenses incurred before the Commission.         This amount will be paid to the applicant's representative,       Mr. A. Friedberg (Postsparkasse 60 000 - 2369.220) in Vienna.         2.    The applicant waives any further claims against the       Republic of Austria relating to the present application."   [German]               "Erklärung der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung         In der Individualbeschwerde Nr. 16494/90 der Frau Elisabeth Schober 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 dem Beschwerdeführer       als Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaigen Ansprüche im Zusammenhang       mit der vorliegenden Individualbeschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von       AS 75 000.   Dieser Betrag umfasst AS 30 000 hinsichtlich der       Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen des Verfahrens vor der       Kommission entstanden sind.         Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten des       Beschwerdeführers Herrn Dr. A. Friedberg in Wien       (Postsparkasse 60 000 - 2369.220) überwiesen.         2.    Der Beschwerdeführer verzichtet auf die Geltendmachung       allfälliger weiterer Forderungen gegen die Republik Österreich       im Zusammenhang mit dem der Beschwerde zugrundeliegenden       Sachverhalt."   10.    At its session on 9 March 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 Second Chamber        President of the Second Chamber           (K. ROGGE)                              (S. TRECHSEL)