CEDH · CASELAW;REPORTS;ENG — 21 janvier 1998

.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. 28838/95                          Richard Schelling                               against                               Austria   REPORT OF THE COMMISSION                    (adopted on 21 January 1998)                          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 Richard Schelling against Austria on 25 September 1995.   It was registered on 3 October 1995 under file No. 28838/95.   2.    The applicant is represented by Mr W.L. Weh, a lawyer practising in Bregenz.   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 21 January 1998 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:             MM    N. BRATZA, Acting President                E. BUSUTTIL                A. WEITZEL                C.L. ROZAKIS           Mrs   J. LIDDY           MM    L. LOUCAIDES                B. MARXER                B. CONFORTI                I. BÉKÉS                A. PERENIC                C. BÎRSAN                M. VILA AMIGÓ           Mrs   M. HION           Mr    R. NICOLINI                               PART I                       STATEMENT OF THE FACTS   7.    The applicant, an Austrian citizen residing in Langenegg (Austria), is a farmer. He complains under Article 6 para. 1 (Art. 6-1) of the Convention about the length of the following proceedings.   8.    In August 1988 the applicant requested permissions under the Water Act (Wasserrechtsgesetz) and the Landscape Protection Act (Landschaftsschutzgesetz) which were necessary for putting a culvert through a drain on his land.   On 21 June 1990 the Bregenz District Administrative Authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) refused the requested permissions.   On 12 December 1990 the Vorarlberg Regional Governor (Landeshauptmann) granted the requested permission under the Water Act. The Vorarlberg Regional Government (Landesregierung), however, on 2 April 1991 dismissed the applicant's appeal insofar it concerned the request for a permission under the Landscape Protection Act. On 28 May 1991 the applicant introduced a complaint with the Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) against the Regional Government's decision.   On 6 May 1996 the Administrative Court quashed the Regional Government's decision and remitted the case to the latter. The proceedings are still pending.                               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 1 September 1997 and 9 December 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. 28838/95, lodged by Mr Richard Schelling, 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 35,000 as compensation in      respect of any possible claims relating to the present      application.   This sum includes AS 15,000 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 Wilfried Ludwig Weh in Bregenz.        2.    The applicant declares his 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. 28838/95 des Herrn Richard Schelling 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 35 000.      Dieser Betrag umfaßt öS 15 000 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. Wilfried Ludwig Weh in      Bregenz 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 21 January 1998, 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                          N. BRATZA         Secretary                          Acting President    to the First Chamber                  of the First Chamber