SCHELLING v. AUSTRIA
Doc ref: 28838/95 • ECHR ID: 001-45962
Document date: January 21, 1998
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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:
"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."
"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
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