Lexploria

EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

FIRST CHAMBER

Application No. 22604/93

P. W.

against

Austria

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION

(adopted on 16 October 1996)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

INTRODUCTION ............................................. 1

PART I: STATEMENT OF THE FACTS .......................... 2

PART II: SOLUTION REACHED ................................ 3

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 P. W. against Austria on

11 August 1993. It was registered on 10 September 1993 under file

No. 22604/93.

2. The applicant was represented by Mr. W.-D. Arnold, a lawyer

practising in Vienna.

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 16 January 1996 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 16 October 1996 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

B. MARXER

G.B. REFFI

B. CONFORTI

N. BRATZA

I. BÉKÉS

G. RESS

A. PERENIC

C. BÎRSAN

K. HERNDL

M. VILA AMIGÓ

PART I

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

7. The applicant, an Austrian national born in 1942 and residing in

Vienna, is a tax consultant (Wirtschaftstreuhänder) by profession.

8. On 8 January 1990 the Linz Tax Office (Finanzamt) decided to

institute criminal proceedings under the Code of Financial Offences

(Finanzstrafgesetz) against the applicant as it suspected him of having

aided and abetted one of his clients to evade taxes.

9. On 9 May 1990 the Upper Austria Regional Directorate for Finance

(Finanzlandesdirektion) dismissed the applicant's appeal against the

above decision.

10. On 29 May 1990 the applicant filed a complaint with the

Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) against the Regional

Directorate's decision of 9 May 1990.

11. On 22 February 1994 the Administrative Court quashed the Regional

Directorate's decision of 9 May 1990 and remitted the case back to the

Regional Directorate.

12. On 7 November 1994 the Regional Directorate decided again on the

applicant's appeal of 12 January 1990 and discontinued the criminal

proceedings.

13. The applicant complains that in the criminal proceedings

instituted against him, he did not receive a hearing within a

reasonable time as required by Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention.

PART II

SOLUTION REACHED

14. Following the decision on the admissibility of the application,

the Commission 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.

15. 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.

16. By letters of 24 June 1996 and 23 August 1996 the parties

informed the Commission that they had agreed on the terms of a friendly

settlement and submitted the following declaration:

17. "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. 22604/93,

lodged by Mr. P. W., 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 60,000 as compensation in

respect of any possible claims relating to the present

application. This sum includes AS 20,000 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. Wolf-Dieter Arnold in Vienna.

2. The applicant declares his application settled.

3. The applicant waives any further claims against the

Republic of Austria relating to the present application."

"Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung

In der Beschwerdesache Nr. 22604/93 des Herrn P. W. 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 60,000.

Dieser Betrag umfaßt öS 20,000 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. Wolf-Dieter Arnold in

Wien 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."

18. At its session on 16 October 1996, the Commission noted that the

parties had reached an agreement regarding the terms of a settlement.

If 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.

19. 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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P.W. v. AUSTRIA

P.W. v. AUSTRIA

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