CEDH · CASELAW;COMMUNICATEDCASES;ENG — 24 janvier 2023

.s800EAC49 { font-size:12pt } .s379BC09C { margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:right } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial } .s10950C61 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:14.2pt; text-align:justify } .s5E1364CA { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:12pt; text-align:center; page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:14pt } .s339D85E6 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:14pt; text-align:center; page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid } .s665E407E { margin-top:66pt; margin-bottom:14pt; text-align:center; page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid } .s29100277 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .s76CF415B { page-break-before:always; clear:both } .s75A32C27 { border-collapse:collapse } .s3695F815 { border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#dfdfdf } .s2EF62ED2 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt } .sEECE831 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; color:#474747 } .sE8934522 { border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top } .s26CC377A { margin-top:0pt; margin-right:8.95pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt } .sEDC5336B { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12pt } .sA1D3DA2E { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:justify } Published on 13 February 2023   FIRST SECTION Application no. 16627/21 Imrich SCHEFFER against Slovakia and 47 other applications (see list appended) communicated on 24 January 2023 SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASES The applicants are Slovak nationals or companies incorporated in Slovakia, operating various businesses as specified in the appended table. Represented by the same lawyer practicing in Bratislava, Mr B. Fridrich, they complain of a violation of their property rights by way of a measure ( opatrenie ) and decrees ( vyhláška ) adopted by the Public Health Authority ( Úrad verejného zdravotníctva – “PHA”) of Slovakia, in response to the spreading of the Covid-19 virus. The measure and decrees were adopted consecutively and entailed, as applicable at the given time, the temporary closing of the applicants’ respective businesses or limitations on the maximum permissible number of guests or customers that they were allowed to accommodate at a time. The applicants allege having incurred pecuniary damage and loss of future income as well as clientele. They contend that the PHA had no power to   impose the limitations it did and that in view of their legal nature the underlying measure and decrees were exempt from any type of judicial review. The applicants specifically contest the applicable legal regime as in force from various dates, matching the time-limit for the introduction of an   individual application under Article 35 § 1 of the Convention. The dates identified by them are also specified in the appended table. The applications raise issues under Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention and Articles 13 and 35 § 1 of the Convention. QUESTIONS TO THE PARTIES 1.     In view of the applicants’ allegations and all relevant circumstances, including but not limited to the applicable statutory rules and jurisprudence, such as section 59b(1) of the Public Health Protection and Development Act (Law no. 355/2007 Coll., as amended by Law no. 286/2020 Coll.); the Constitutional Court’s decisions in cases nos. III. US 291/21 and IV.   US   249/21; and its judgment in case no. PL. US 8/21, have the applicants exhausted all effective domestic remedies, as required by Article 35 § 1 of the Convention?   2.     Has there been an interference with the applicants’ right to the peaceful enjoyment of possessions, within the meaning of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1? If so, did it fulfil the requirements of lawfulness under that Article? Among other aspects, was it accompanied by procedural safeguards inherent in that provision (see Capital Bank AD v. Bulgaria , no. 49429/99, §§ 133-34, ECHR   2005 XII (extracts))?   3.     Did the applicants have at their disposal an effective domestic remedy for their complaint under Article 1 of Protocol No. 1, as required by Article   13 of the Convention? LIST OF APPLICATIONS No. Application no. Lodged on Applicant’s name Area of business Starting date of the impugned regime 1. 16627/21 25/03/2021 Imrich SCHEFFER Fitness centre 15/10/2020 2. 16633/21 25/03/2021 BAT TRNAVA, S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 3. 16674/21 25/03/2021 Peter MATUŠKA Fitness centre 15/10/2020 4. 16938/21 25/03/2021 KULTURISTICKÝ ODDIEL VETERINARY BODYBUILDING CLUB KOŠICE Fitness centre 15/10/2020 5. 16947/21 25/03/2021 K & S STAV PARTNERS S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 6. 16951/21 25/03/2021 MEGAGYM INVEST, S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 7. 16959/21 25/03/2021 EVA-ST, S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 8. 16963/21 25/03/2021 Matúš KARABIN Fitness centre 15/10/2020 9. 16967/21 25/03/2021 Peter KOSTKA Fitness centre 15/10/2020 10. 17260/21 25/03/2021 Peter MARCINA Fitness centre 15/10/2020 11. 17262/21 25/03/2021 Mikuláš BADO Fitness centre 15/10/2020 12. 17265/21 25/03/2021 DOJO S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 13. 17275/21 25/03/2021 KINGS GYM S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 14. 17278/21 25/03/2021 BRADLOINVEST SK TRADE, S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 15. 17290/21 25/03/2021 IMPERIA FITNESS S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 16. 17293/21 25/03/2021 P.R. AGENCY S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 17. 17559/21 25/03/2021 TOROMAG, S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 18. 17572/21 25/03/2021 FIT&GYM, S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 19. 17579/21 25/03/2021 JANMAR IVANKA S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 20. 18319/21 31/03/2021 UPPSALA S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 21. 18720/21 25/03/2021 ŠTÚDIO POHYBU BUBEMA, S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 22. 18758/21 25/03/2021 RETSUS S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 23. 20404/21 12/04/2021 TOGET, S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 24. 20421/21 12/04/2021 SKL AGENCY S.R.O. Fitness centre 15/10/2020 25. 20902/21 13/04/2021 GALEK, S.R.O. Restaurant 15/10/2020 26. 31836/21 16/06/2021 INMODESK S.R.O. Retail store 19/12/2020 27. 32142/21 17/06/2021 CUBESHOP S.R.O. Retail store 19/12/2020 28. 32146/21 17/06/2021 Vladimír BEŇO Retail store 19/12/2020 29. 32149/21 16/06/2021 JRC SK S.R.O. Retail store 19/12/2020 30. 32154/21 16/06/2021 DANIAN S.R.O. Retail store 19/12/2020 31. 32157/21 16/06/2021 Marián RÚČKA Retail store 19/12/2020 32. 32160/21 16/06/2021 MISS PINK S.R.O. Retail store 19/12/2020 33. 32233/21 16/06/2021 SUPER SPORT S.R.O. Retail store 19/12/2020 34. 32238/21 16/06/2021 DIAMANTIER, S.R.O. Retail store 19/12/2020 35. 32701/21 17/06/2021 Stanislav FARKAŠ Retail store 19/12/2020 36. 32765/21 17/06/2021 SKL S.R.O. Retail store 19/12/2020 37. 32873/21 17/06/2021 PLAYER, S.R.O. Retail store 19/12/2020 38. 32892/21 17/06/2021 SLOVAKIA MANGO FRANCHISEE S.R.O. Retail store 19/12/2020 39. 33406/21 26/06/2021 Michal ČERVÁK Retail store 30/12/2020 40. 38291/21 26/07/2021 ENERGYFIT S.R.O. Fitness centre 27/01/2021 41. 44638/21 03/09/2021 OZETA, S.R.O. Retail store 08/03/2021 42. 47365/21 17/09/2021 ORION TIP SK, A.S. Betting agency 22/03/2021 43. 47371/21 17/09/2021 SLOVAK GAMES, S.R.O. Betting agency 22/03/2021 44. 22488/22 29/04/2022 Matúš KARABIN Fitness centre 11/10/2021 48. 22491/22 29/04/2022 Mikuláš BADO Fitness centre 11/10/2021 46. 22741/22 29/04/2022 Peter MARCINA Fitness centre 11/10/2021 47. 26276/22 17/05/2022 DENIM RETAIL S.R.O. Retail store 22/11/2021 48. 26280/22 17/05/2022 SLOVAKIA MANGO FRANCHISEE S.R.O. Retail store 22/11/2021