OBERDANNER v. AUSTRIA
Doc ref: 26509/95 • ECHR ID: 001-45927
Document date: October 28, 1997
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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:
"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."
"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
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