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. 23085/93                     Ilse Baumgartner and Others                               against                               Austria                      REPORT OF THE COMMISSION                    (adopted on 16 October 1996)                          TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                             Page   INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1   PART I   : STATEMENT OF THE FACTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3   PART II : SOLUTION REACHED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4   ANNEX    :   LIST OF APPLICANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6                            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 Ilse Baumgarnter and Others against Austria on 16 August 1993.   It was registered on 14 December 1993 under file No. 23085/93.   2.    The applicants were represented by Dr. G. Grießer, a lawyer practising in Vienna.   3.    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.   4.    On 16 January 1996 the Commission (First Chamber) declared the application admissible insofar as it concerns the applicants' complaint that they were not heard as regards the permission to terminate their contracts of employment under SS. 20 b and c of the Composition of Creditors Act which was given to their employer by the Vienna Commercial Court.   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        The applicants, whose names are annexed to this report, were at the relevant time employees of a limited company with seat in Vienna.   7.    In the context of composition with creditors proceedings, the employer company requested the Vienna Commercial Court (Handelsgericht) for permission to terminate the contracts of employment of sixty-eight employees, including the applicants, under SS. 20 b and c of the Composition with Creditors Act (Ausgleichsordnung). These provisions, in the version which was in force at the time of the relevant facts, allowed the court, without being obliged to hear the persons concerned, to grant a debtor permission to terminate contracts of employment. The debtor had to respect the period of notice (Kündigungsfrist) provided for in a law or in collective agreement, but, according to court practice was not bound by the date for termination of contracts (Kündigungstermin) as prescribed in S. 20 of the Employees Act (Angestelltengesetz).   8.    On 22 February 1993 the Vienna Commercial Court, without hearing the applicants, granted their employer company permission to terminate their contracts of employment in accordance with SS. 20 b and c of the Composition with Creditors Act.   9.    On 15 March 1993 the employer company, in pursuance of the Court's permission and in accordance with the periods of notice provided for by law, gave the applicants notice of the termination of their contracts of employment which became effective on 26 April, 15 May, 15 June, 15 July or 15 August 1993 respectively. If S. 20 of the Employees Act had been applicable, twenty of the applicants could have only been dismissed 15 days later, eleven applicants only 45 days later, three applicants 64 days later and seven applicants only 75 days later.   10.   On 23 March 1993 the Vienna Commercial Court rejected the appeal lodged by the applicants against its decision of 22 February 1993. It noted that according to SS. 20 b para. 2 of the Composition with Creditors Act no remedy was available against the permission to terminate contracts of employment.   11.   Before the Commission, the applicants complained under Article 6 of the Convention that they were not heard by the Vienna Commercial Court prior to its decision of 22 February 1993. They considered that this decision directly affected their civil rights in that their claims relating to their employment were reduced. In particular they complained that their employer could terminate their contracts of employment prematurely. Further, the applicants complained under Article 4 of the Convention.                               PART II                          SOLUTION REACHED   12.   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.   13.   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.   14.   By letters of 27 June 1996 and 23 July 1996, respectively, the applicants and the respondent Government informed the Commission that they had agreed on the terms of a friendly settlement, and submitted the following declaration.   <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. 23085/93, lodged by Ilse Baumgartner and Others, 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      applicants a sum amounting to altogether AS 450,000 as      compensation in respect of any possible claims relating to the      present application. This sum is composed of an amount of      AS 10,000 for each of the forty-one applicants and an amount of      AS 40,000 in respect of the counsel's fees and expenses incurred      in the proceedings before the Commission.        This amount will be paid to the applicant's counsel,      Mr. G. Grießer in Vienna.        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 Beschwerdesache Nr. 23085/93 der Frau Ilse Baumgartner und anderer einigen sich die Parteien under 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 den Beschwerdeführern      als Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaige Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit      der vorliegenden Beschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von öS 450,000.      Dieser Betrag setzt sich zusammen aus einem Betrag von öS 10,000      für jeden der einundvierzig Beschwerdeführer und einem Betrag von      öS 40,000 hinsichtlich der Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen      des Verfahrens vor der Kommission entstanden sind.        Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten der      Beschwerdeführer Herrn Rechtsanwalt Dr. Georg Griesser in Wien      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."   15.   At its session on 16 October 1996, 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.   16.   For these reasons, the Commission adopted the present Report.     M.F. BUQUICCHIO                             J. LIDDY      Secretary                                President to the First Chamber                     of the First Chamber                              A N N E X        The applicants are:        1.    Ilse BAUMGARTNER, born in 1944, resident in Altenberg      2.    Gerhard BECAN, born in 1942, resident in Vienna      3.    Helmut BLIEM, born in 1940, resident in Vienna      4.    Franz BRAUNSTEINER, born in 1967, resident in Vienna      5.    Beatrix BRAZDA, born in 1947, resident in Vienna      6.    Gabriele BURGER, born in 1962, resident in Weikersdorf      7.    Christian FELLNER, born in 1965, resident in Vienna      8.    Ernst HACKENBERGER, born in 1958, resident in Vienna      9.    Ernst HEGER, born in 1942, resident in Vienna      10.   Gertrude HOFER, born in 1951, resident in Vienna      11.   Robert HORAK, born in 1939, resident in Deutsch-Wagram      12.   Silvia HRUSCHKA, born in 1952, resident in Vienna      13.   Snezana JORGIC, born in 1961, resident in Vienna      14.   Gerhard KATOLICZKI, born in 1951, resident in Vienna      15.   Angela KLEER (married: Mikula), born in 1971, resident in                Vienna      16.   Walter KOMENDA, born in 1942, resident in Vienna      17.   Gerhard KOMENDA, born in 1961, resident in Vienna      18.   Helmut KRAMER, born in 1940, resident in Pischeldorf      19.   Manfred KRAMMER, born in 1950, resident in Vienna      20.   Thomas LACKNER, born in 1969, resident in Vienna      21.   Claudia LEHNER, born in 1974, resident in Sierndorf      22.   Michaela MEITZ, born in 1960, resident in Vienna      23.   Irena MENZL, born in 1944, resident in Vienna      24.   Rosanda MIDL, born in 1956, resident in Vienna      25.   Elfriede RAUCH, born in 1940, resident in Vienna      26.   Heinrich REIMER, born in 1943, resident in Vienna      27.   Helmut RIENER, born in 1941, resident in Breitenfurt      28.   Martin ROLENZ, born in 1942, resident in Vienna      29.   Maria ROTHMAYER, born in 1948, resident in Vienna      30.   Angela SCHWARZ, born in 1947, resident in Atzenbrugg      31.   Elisabeth SCHWEINHAMMER, born in 1962, resident in Vienna      32.   Annemarie SEJKA, born in 1948, resident in Vienna      33.   Ernst SMAHA, born in 1945, resident in Vienna      34.   Robert SOBOTKA, born in 1968, resident in Vienna      35.   Wolfgang TESCH, born in 1959, resident in Viehofen      36.   Elisabeth VLADAR, born in 1943, resident in Vienna      37.   Manfred WACLAWIK, born in 1962, resident in Vienna      38.   Monika WAGNER, born in 1957, resident in Vienna      39.   Ernst WIDHALM, born in 1956, resident in Eschenbach      40.   Sonja WRULICH (married: Wrulich-Zimmel), born in 1958,                resident in Vienna      41.   Andreas WYTEK, born in 1965, resident in Vienna