PICHLER sen. and PICHLER jun. v. AUSTRIA
Doc ref: 18305/91 • ECHR ID: 001-45614
Document date: July 5, 1993
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
FIRST CHAMBER
Application No. 18305/91
Karl Pichler sen. and Karl Pichler jun.
against
Austria
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
(adopted on 5 July 1993)
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 Karl Pichler sen. and
Karl Pichler jun. against Austria on 19 April 1991. It was registered
on 4 June 1991 under file No. 18305/91.
The applicants were represented by Mr. M. Ganzert, a lawyer
practising in Wels.
The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent,
Ambassador H. Türk, then Head of the International Law Department at
the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. On 10 February 1993 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."
3. The Commission (First Chamber) found that the parties had reached
a friendly settlement of the case and on 5 July 1993 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.
The following members were present when the Report was adopted:
Sir Basil HALL, Acting President of the First Chamber
MM. F. ERMACORA
A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK
C.L. ROZAKIS
Mrs. J. LIDDY
MM. M. PELLONPÄÄ
B. MARXER
G.B. REFFI
B. CONFORTI
PART I
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
4. The first applicant, born in 1928, is an Austrian national and
resident at Leonding in Austria. The second applicant, the first
applicant's son born in 1953, is also an Austrian national and resident
at Marchtrenk in Austria.
5. The applicants complained under Article 6 para. 1 of the
Convention about the length of criminal proceedings concerning in
particular the charge of receiving property obtained by tax evasion
(Abgabenhehlerei) within the meaning of the Austrian Code of Tax
Offences (Finanzstrafgesetz). The proceedings were instituted against
the applicants in 1981. They terminated in 1991.
PART II
SOLUTION REACHED
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. By letters of 11 and 18 June 1993, respectively, the applicants
and the respondent Government submitted the following agreement reached
between them:
"Statements of the parties with a view of 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. 18305/91,
lodged by Mr. Karl Pichler sen. and Mr. Karl Pichler jun., declare with
a view to a friendly settlement, reached with assistance of the
European Commission of Human Rights, as follows:
1. The Government of the Republic of Austria will pay to the
applicants a sum amounting to altogether AS 180,000 as
compensation in respect of any possible claims relating to the
present application. This sum includes AS 30,000 in respect of
counsel's fees and expenses incurred in the proceedings before
the Commission.
This amount will be paid to the applicants' representative
Mr. M. Ganzert in Wels.
2. The applicants declare their application settled.
3. The applicants waive any further claims against the
Republic of Austria relating to the present application."
"Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung
In der Individualbeschwerde Nr. 18305/91 der Herren Karl Pichler
sen. and Karl Pichler jun. verständigen sich die Parteien unter
Bezugnahme auf Artikel 28 Abs. 1 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 den Beschwerdeführern
als Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaige Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit
der vorliegenden Individualbeschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von
AS 180,000. Dieser Betrag umfaßt AS 30,000 hinsichtlich der
Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen des Verfahren vor der
Kommission entstanden sind.
Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten der
Beschwerdeführer Herrn M. Ganzert in Wels überwiesen.
2. Die Beschwerdeführer erklären ihre oben genannte Beschwerde
als erledigt.
3. Die Beschwerdeführer verzichten auf die Geltendmachung
allfälliger weiterer Forderungen gegen die Republik Österreich
im Zusammenhang mit dem der Beschwerde zugrundeliegenden
Sachverhalt."
9. At its session on 5 July 1993, the Commission (First Chamber)
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.
10. For these reasons, the Commission (First Chamber) adopted this
Report.
Secretary to the Acting President of the
First Chamber First Chamber
(M. F. BUQUICCHIO) (SIR BASIL HALL)
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