CEDH · CASELAW;REPORTS;ENG — 16 octobre 1996

.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. 22604/93                                    P. W.                                   against                                   Austria                            REPORT OF THE COMMISSION                        (adopted on 16 October 1996)                              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 P. W. against Austria on 11 August 1993.   It was registered on 10 September 1993 under file No. 22604/93.   2.     The applicant was represented by Mr. W.-D. Arnold, a lawyer practising in Vienna.   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 16 January 1996 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 16 October 1996 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:              Mrs.   J. LIDDY, President            MM.    M.P. PELLONPÄÄ                  E. BUSUTTIL                  A. WEITZEL                  B. MARXER                  G.B. REFFI                  B. CONFORTI                  N. BRATZA                  I. BÉKÉS                  G. RESS                  A. PERENIC                  C. BÎRSAN                  K. HERNDL                  M. VILA AMIGÓ                                   PART I                           STATEMENT OF THE FACTS   7.     The applicant, an Austrian national born in 1942 and residing in Vienna, is a tax consultant (Wirtschaftstreuhänder) by profession.   8.     On 8 January 1990 the Linz Tax Office (Finanzamt) decided to institute criminal proceedings under the Code of Financial Offences (Finanzstrafgesetz) against the applicant as it suspected him of having aided and abetted one of his clients to evade taxes.   9.     On 9 May 1990 the Upper Austria Regional Directorate for Finance (Finanzlandesdirektion) dismissed the applicant's appeal against the above decision.   10.    On 29 May 1990 the applicant filed a complaint with the Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) against the Regional Directorate's decision of 9 May 1990.   11.    On 22 February 1994 the Administrative Court quashed the Regional Directorate's decision of 9 May 1990 and remitted the case back to the Regional Directorate.   12.    On 7 November 1994 the Regional Directorate decided again on the applicant's appeal of 12 January 1990 and discontinued the criminal proceedings.   13.    The applicant complains that in the criminal proceedings instituted against him, he did not receive a hearing within a reasonable time as required by Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention.                                   PART II                              SOLUTION REACHED   14.    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.   15.    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.   16.    By letters of 24 June 1996 and 23 August 1996 the parties informed the Commission that they had agreed on the terms of a friendly settlement and submitted the following declaration:   17.    <Translation>         "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. 22604/93, lodged by Mr. P. W., 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 60,000 as compensation in       respect of any possible claims relating to the present       application.   This sum includes AS 20,000 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. Wolf-Dieter Arnold in Vienna.         2.    The applicant declares his application settled.         3.    The applicant waives any further claims against the       Republic of Austria relating to the present application."   <German>         "Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung         In der Beschwerdesache Nr. 22604/93 des Herrn P. W. 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 60,000.       Dieser Betrag umfaßt öS 20,000 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. Wolf-Dieter Arnold in       Wien 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."   18.    At its session on 16 October 1996, the Commission noted that the parties had reached an agreement regarding the terms of a settlement.         If 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.   19.    For these reasons, the Commission adopted the present Report.     M.F. BUQUICCHIO                                  J. LIDDY      Secretary                                     President to the First Chamber                         of the First Chamber