FOURTH SECTION

DECISION

Application no . 44883/11 Zofia BAT against Poland

The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting on 2 April 2013 as a Committee composed of:

Päivi Hirvelä , President, Ledi Bianku , Paul Mahoney , judges and Fatoş Aracı , Deputy Section Registrar ,

Having regard to the above application lodged on 19 July 2011,

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

Having deliberated, decides as follows:

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

The applicant, Ms Zofia Bat, is a Polish national, who was born in 1956 and lives in Głogów .

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

The applicant complained essentially that divesting her, in the circumstances of her case, of her acquired right to an early ‑ retirement pension amounted to an unjustified deprivation of property.

THE LAW

On 7 January 2013 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 Ms Zofia Bat, with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the above-mentioned case pending before the European Court of Human Rights, EUR 8,000 (eight thousand euros ) 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 converted into Polish zlotys at the rate applicable on the date of payment, and 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 4 February 2013 the Court received the following declaration signed by the applicant:

“I, Zofia Bat, note that the Government of Poland are prepared to pay me, with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the above ‑ mentioned case pending before the European Court of Human Rights, EUR 8,000 (eight thousand euros ) to cover any and all pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and expenses, plus any tax that may be chargeable to me.

This sum will be converted into Polish zlotys at the rate applicable on the date of payment, and 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.

I accept the proposal and waive any further claims against Poland in respect of the facts giving rise to this application. I 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.

Fatoş Aracı Päivi Hirvelä Deputy Registrar President