CEDH · CASELAW;REPORTS;ENG — 28 octobre 1997

.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. 26509/95                          Benno Oberdanner                               against                               Austria                      REPORT OF THE COMMISSION                    (adopted on 28 October 1997)                          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 Benno Oberdanner against Austria on 26 January 1995.   It was registered on 14 February 1995 under file No. 26509/95.   2.    The applicant was represented by Mr R. Oberdanner, a lawyer practising in Salzburg.   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 28 October 1997 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                C.L. ROZAKIS                L. LOUCAIDES                B. MARXER                B. CONFORTI                N. BRATZA                I. BÉKÉS                G. RESS                A. PERENIC                C. BÎRSAN                K. HERNDL                M. VILA AMIGÓ           Mrs   M. HION           Mr    R. NICOLINI                               PART I                       STATEMENT OF THE FACTS   7.    The applicant is an Austrian citizen, born in 1920, and living in Seekirchen (Salzburg).   8.    On 7 April 1993 the applicant filed a request for re-calculation of his telephone bill (Antrag auf Neuberechnung der Gesprächsgebühren) with the Post and Telephone Authority (Post- und Telegraphendirektion) against a telephone bill for February 1993.   On 25 August 1993 the Post and Telephone Authority dismissed the applicant's request.   On 29 November 1993 the Principal Post and Telephone Authority (General- direktion für die Post- und Telegraphenverwaltung) dismissed the applicant's appeal.   On 18 January 1994 the applicant introduced a complaint with the Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) and also requested the Administrative Court to hold a public hearing.On 29 June 1994 the Administrative Court dismissed the complaint rejecting at the same time the applicant's request for an oral hearing.   The applicant complains that in the above proceedings he did not have the benefit of a public hearing before a tribunal within the meaning of Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention.                               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 3 October 1997 and 17 October 1997 respectively, the parties submitted the following agreement reached between them:        <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. 26509/95, lodged by Mr Benno Oberdanner, 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 51,000 as compensation in      respect of any possible claims relating to the present      application.   This sum includes AS 36,000 in respect of counsel's      fees and expenses incurred in the proceedings before the      Commission.        This amount will be paid to the applicant representative      Mr Robert Oberdanner in Salzburg.        2.    The applicant declares its application settled.        3.    The applicant waives any further claims against the      Republic of Austria relating to the facts underlying the present      application."        <German>        "Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung        In der Beschwerdesache Nr. 26509/95 des Herrn Benno Oberdanner 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 51 000.      Dieser Betrag umfaßt öS 36 000 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. Robert Oberdanner in      Salzburg 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 28 October 1997, 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                          J. LIDDY         Secretary                             President    to the First Chamber                  of the First Chamber