FOURTH SECTION

DECISION

Application no . 18533/13 Danuta WĄSOWICZ-HOŁOTA and Agnieszka GRON against Poland

The European Court of Human Rights ( Fourth Section ), sitting on 14 September 2015 as a Committee composed of:

Ledi Bianku , President, Paul Mahoney , Krzysztof Wojtyczek , judges, and Fatoş Aracı , Deputy Section Registrar ,

Having regard to the above application lodged on 5 March 2013 ,

Having regard to the formal declarations accepting a friendly settlement of the case,

Having deliberated, decides as follows:

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

The applicants, Ms Danuta Wąsowicz-Hołota and Ms Agnieszka Groń , are Polish nationals, who were born in 1958 and 1975 , respectively, and live in Nysa and Niwnica. The first applicant is an editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper Nowiny Nyskie and the second applicant is a journalist working for the newspaper. They are represented before the Court by Mr J. Sanocki, the director of the publishing house.

The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Ms J. Chrzanowska, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The applicants complained under Article 10 of the Convention about violation of their right to freedom of expression.

THE LAW

On 16 June 2015 the Court received the following declaration from the Government:

“ I, Justyna Chrzanowska , Agent of the Government , declare that the Government of Poland offer to pay jointly to Ms Danuta Wąsowicz-Hołota , and Ms Agnieszka Groń , with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the above-mentioned case pending before the European Court of Human Rights, PLN 20,000 ( twenty thousand Polish zlotys ) to cover any and all pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and expenses, plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.

This sum will be payable within three months from the date of notification of the decision taken by the Court to strike the case out of its list of cases. In the event of failure to pay this sum within the said three-month period, the Government undertake to pay simple interest on it , from expiry of that period until settlement, at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points. The payment will constitute the final resolution of the case. ”

On 19 June 2015 the Court received the following declaration signed by the applicants ’ representative:

“I, Janusz Sanocki , note that the Government of Poland are prepared to pay jointly to Ms Danuta Wąsowicz-Hołota and Ms Agnieszka Gro ń, with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the above-mentioned case pending before the Europ ean Court of Human Rights, PLN 20 , 0 00 ( twenty thousand Polish zlotys) to cover any and all pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and expenses, plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicant.

This sum will be payable within three months from the date of notification of the decision taken by the Court to strike the case out of its list of cases. From the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement simple interest shall be payable on the above amount at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points.

Having consulted my client s , I would inform you that they accept the proposal and waive any further claims against Poland in respect of the facts giving rise to this application. They declare that this constitutes a final resolution of the case.”

The Court takes note of the friendly settlement reached between the parties. It is satisfied that the settlement is based on respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and its Protocols and finds no reasons to justify a continued examination of the application.

In view of the above, it is appropriate to strike the case out of the list.

For these reasons, the Court, unanimously,

Decides to strike the application out of its list of cases in accordance with Article 39 of the Convention.

Done in English and notified in writing on 8 October 2015 .

Fatoş Aracı Ledi Bianku Deputy Registrar President