Lexploria

SECOND SECTION

CASE OF OMEROVIĆ AND OTHERS v. SERBIA

( Application no. 72470/16 )

JUDGMENT

STRASBOURG

5 November 2020

This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.

In the case of Omerović and Others v. Serbia ,

The European Court of Human Rights ( Second Section ), sitting as a Committee composed of:

Carlo Ranzoni, President, Branko Lubarda, Pauliine Koskelo, judges, and Liv Tigerstedt , Acting Deputy Section Registrar ,

Having deliberated in private on 15 October 2020 ,

Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:

PROCEDURE

1 . The case originated in an application against Serbia lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) on 17 November 2016.

2 . The applicants were represented by Ms M. Lapadat, a lawyer practising in Belgrade.

3 . The Serbian Government (“the Government”) were given notice of the application.

THE FACTS

4 . The applicants ’ details and information relevant to the application are set out in the appended table.

5 . The applicant s complained of the non-enforcement of domestic decisions given against a socially/State-owned company .

THE LAW

6 . The applicants complained of the non-enforcement of domestic decisions given in their favour . They relied, expressly or in substance, on Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and on Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 , which read as follows:

Article 6 § 1

“In the determination of his civil rights and obligations ... everyone is entitled to a fair ... hearing ... by [a] ... tribunal ...”

Article 1 of Protocol No. 1

“Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.

The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of a State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure the payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties.”

7 . The Court reiterates that the execution of a judgment given by any court must be regarded as an integral part of a “hearing” for the purposes of Article 6. It also refers to its case-law concerning the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of final domestic judgments (see Hornsby v. Greece , no. 18357/91, § 40, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1997 ‑ II).

8 . In the leading case of R. Kačapor and Others v. Serbia, nos. 2269/06 and 5 others, 15 January 2008, the Court already found a violation in respect of issues similar to those in the present case.

9 . Having examined all the material submitted to it, the Court has not found any fact or argument capable of persuading it to reach a different conclusion on the admissibility and merits of these complaints. Having regard to its case-law on the subject, the Court considers that in the instant case the authorities did not deploy all necessary efforts to enforce fully and in due time the decisions in the applicants ’ favour.

10 . These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 .

11 . Article 41 of the Convention provides:

“If the Court finds that there has been a violation of the Convention or the Protocols thereto, and if the internal law of the High Contracting Party concerned allows only partial reparation to be made, the Court shall, if necessary, afford just satisfaction to the injured party.”

12 . Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case ‑ law (see, in particular, R. Kačapor and Others v. Serbia, nos. 2269/06 and 5 others, 15 January 2008, and Stanković v. Serbia (dec.) , 41285/19, 19 December 2019), the Court considers it reasonable to award the sums indicated in the appended table.

13 . The Court further notes that the respondent State has an obligation to pay any outstanding judgment debt from its own funds.

14 . The Court considers it appropriate that the default interest rate should be based on the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank, to which should be added three percentage points.

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT , UNANIMOUSLY,

(a) that the respondent State is to pay the applicants, within three months, the amounts indicated in the appended table, to be converted into the currency of the respondent State at the rate applicable at the date of settlement;

(b) that 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.

Done in English, and notified in writing on 5 November 2020 , pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.

Liv Tigerstedt Carlo Ranzoni Acting Deputy Registrar President

APPENDIX

Application raising complaints under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1

( non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions given against socially/State-owned companies )

Application no.

Date of introduction

Applicant ’ s name

Date of birth

Relevant domestic decision

Start date of non-enforcement period or date of entry into force of the Convention in respect of Serbia (3 March 2004)

End date of non-enforcement period

Length of enforcement proceedings

Amount awarded for non-pecuniary damage per applicant

(in euros) [1] [2]

Amount awarded for costs and expenses per application

(in euros) [3]

72470/16

17/11/2016

(199 applicants)

Kumrija OMEROVIĆ

02/01/1962

Hasim SINANOVIĆ

10/10/1975

Esminka BRONJA

23/07/1964

Mirsada BEROVIĆ

09/09/1964

Muzafer PLOJOVIĆ

19/04/1967

Beka OMEROVIĆ

29/05/1967

Sulejma ARSLANOVIĆ

30/09/1964

Zineta RAMOVIĆ

16/10/1966

Mersija ZEĆIROVIĆ

18/05/1967

Vahida LJAJIĆ

19/07/1966

Muška HODŽIĆ

20/06/1965

Muratka AJDINOVIĆ

08/01/1956

Ismeta PLOJOVIĆ

29/12/1972

Zumreta UGLJANIN

13/09/1968

Hedija DERDEMEZ

20/03/1962

Izet PRELIĆ

12/12/1972

Azra ISOVIĆ

01/06/1969

Ferida BEJTOVIĆ

17/01/1959

Safka HADŽIĆ

15/04/1966

Šadija MURIĆ

19/06/1966

Besim SALKOVIĆ

12/01/1968

Sanija HOT

03/02/1968

Muradija KURTANOVIĆ

01/01/1967

Zuhra GEGIĆ

05/01/1963

Ifeta ŠEMOVIĆ

10/06/1968

Safeta BEĆOVIĆ

27/02/1964

Hidajet EMINOVIĆ

16/10/1967

Ramiza ĆOSOVIĆ

08/10/1972

Vasvija HAJDINOVIĆ

25/06/1965

Sabaheta NURKOVIĆ

03/06/1966

Zineta BULJEVIĆ

09/04/1965

Almasa DREKOVIĆ

22/12/1965

Hankija SELMANOVIĆ

24/02/1966

Mehdija BALIĆ

03/04/1966

Mujesira HAMIDOVIĆ

03/02/1963

Senadija RAMOVIĆ

18/01/1965

Hadžira BULIĆ

29/06/1967

Senada BALIĆ

20/03/1968

Zuhra GEGIĆ

30/11/1965

Senadija Å KRIJELJ

25/01/1968

Sanija BULIĆ

12/07/1965

Muamera HOT [4]

b: 08/05/1967

d: 04/03/2017

Å eha DERDEMEZ

10/01/1967

Ramiz Å KRIJELJ

21/11/1968

Sadija BIÅ EVAC

24/10/1966

Bisera UGLJANIN

05/09/1963

Nafija MURIĆ

17/06/1965

Asifa OMEROVIĆ

08/03/1966

Rahima UGLJANIN

01/10/1960

Edib BIÅ EVAC

08/01/1966

Hajruša AJDINOVIĆ

20/01/1964

Soko TUTIĆ

10/07/1966

Mevljuda HASIĆ

28/01/1967

Munir TAHIROVIĆ

03/04/1971

Kimeta HASIĆ

06/04/1971

Fadilja ČULJEVIĆ

19/01/1974

Hava TUTIĆ

21/04/1966

Zumreta BEJTOVIĆ

01/01/1968

Mersada BEJTOVIĆ

17/01/1970

Fernala ZEĆIROVIĆ

15/06/1953

Zilja TUTIĆ

20/01/1966

Hankija KOÅ UTA

28/09/1969

Mersija NEZOVIĆ

20/05/1965

Ajiša ŠEMSOVIĆ

25/10/1966

Nejma GEGIĆ

12/10/1968

Zoran SRETKOVIĆ

01/06/1960

Miodrag VELJOVIĆ

23/03/1957

Hasima Å KRIJELJ

05/05/1968

Hajrija TAHIROVIĆ [5]

b: 12/09/1965

d: 16/04/2015

Mevljuda HASIĆ

06/10/1968

Mirsada PRELJEVIĆ

27/01/1969

Huzeir FEKOVIĆ

20/07/1958

Ifeta JAKUPOVIĆ

24/10/1963

Zlata ĐULOVIĆ

10/12/1962

Zalifa ĐULOVIĆ

06/12/1971

Mirsada ĐULOVIĆ

20/04/1964

Zaga MILUNOVIĆ

06/10/1963

Dragana SAVIĆ

17/01/1971

Munevera DAZDAREVIĆ

20/08/1963

Bedrija ADEMOVIĆ

11/05/1960

Sabaheta NUMANOVIĆ [6]

b : 20/08/1963

d : 06/05/2018

Fata ZUKORLIĆ

11/02/1962

Mevljuda RAGIPOVIĆ

05/08/1969

Zoran STAŠEVIĆ

25/09/1969

Faketa REŠOVIĆ

22/12/1965

Milosava ZEČEVIĆ

28/04/1966

Senadija HAJROVIĆ

10/03/1968

Besim KURTAJ

23/09/1958

Bahta BAHTIJAREVIĆ

21/07/1970

Vasvija SKAREP

05/12/1964

Fatima SMAILOVIĆ

15/02/1963

Slada GEGIĆ

26/01/1967

Rabija Å KRIJELJ

11/06/1971

Bajramka TUTIĆ

14/03/1959

Dušica ZEČEVIĆ

23/07/1960

Faruk RAMIČEVIĆ

24/04/1969

Selima TUTIĆ

10/04/1963

Ifeta MALAGIĆ

26/05/1967

Snežana BOJOVIĆ

16/12/1968

Nazića DREKOVIĆ

27/10/1965

Slobodanka TANASKOVIĆ

13/09/1958

Umihana MECINOVIĆ

15/07/1964

Mirsada DREKOVIĆ

24/12/1961

Nail TUTIĆ

15/02/1966

Ibrahim RIZVANOVIĆ

13/01/1966

Hava RIZVANOVIĆ

24/06/1964

Šadija HUSOVIĆ

12/06/1969

Kimeta AHMETOVIĆ

10/08/1965

Fehima HUSOVIĆ

01/03/1964

Emina HOT

25/01/1964

Vučina VELJOVIĆ

01/01/1957

Izet HABIBOVIĆ

10/03/1965

Sabahet ADILOVIĆ

23/02/1969

Dušica RADOJČIĆ

28/06/1962

Jasmina HAJRIZOVIĆ

25/10/1967

Dževat HABIBOVIĆ

17/07/1966

Zehiba AVDIĆ

04/01/1967

Mirjana MILUNOVIĆ

15/04/1973

Svetlana RAKOVIĆ

02/12/1961

Nermina HOT

01/01/1973

Hasna KURTOVIĆ

26/04/1962

Slavica MILUNOVIĆ

20/09/1969

Hajrija NUMANOVIĆ

02/08/1969

Sabaheta PEPIĆ [7]

b: 30/01/1960

d: 03/04/2018

Fata HAJDINOVIĆ

12/03/1969

Safija ŠEHOVIĆ

08/04/1963

Sadika ADEMOVIĆ

10/05/1966

Munira OMEROVIĆ

01/01/1963

Suljo AZEMOVIĆ

20/12/1969

Hajrija RAMIČEVIĆ

15/09/1965

Hafiza ISLAMOVIĆ

25/04/1969

Miljhata ŠALJIĆ

03/01/1965

Zlata KURTOVIĆ

04/01/1966

Fatima FEKOVIĆ

25/01/1968

Misala HABIBOVIĆ

03/06/1965

Fatima KOÅ UTA

12/02/1966

Muška GUSINAC HOT

10/02/1967

Zorka JOKSIMOVIĆ

29/03/1955

Nafija PEJOVIĆ

19/03/1965

Mersija PRAMENKOVIĆ

26/10/1973

Zenifa MARTINOVIĆ

07/05/1963

Sadika ADEMOVIĆ

23/09/1953

Omer SUBAŠIĆ

06/01/1951

Mirsad DEDEJIĆ

20/01/1969

Ajkuna ČOLOVIĆ

20/05/1964

Hamida SADOVIĆ

22/09/1965

Vezira HOT

15/03/1965

Nuradija ARSLANOVIĆ

10/09/1946

Sarija DREKOVIĆ [8]

b: 12/10/1961

d: date unknown

Aiša KRKUŠIĆ

20/05/1964

Nurija ISLAMOVIĆ

15/06/1968

Dika KUČEVIĆ

24/05/1950

Šaha BALIĆ

08/12/1961

Avdo AVDOVIĆ

29/04/1973

Hivzija RAMIČEVIĆ

10/03/1965

Nusreta IBRAHIMOVIĆ

15/02/1962

Jadranka ZEČEVIĆ

10/01/1965

Hasnija EMINOVIĆ

10/11/1965

Medina SULJIĆ

14/01/1968

Mensur RAMIĆ

15/05/1962

Saliha ISOVIĆ

01/05/1966

Esma HADŽIĆ

03/05/1965

Sabaheta BEŠIROVIĆ

16/02/1965

Biljana BELOŠEVIĆ

10/04/1973

Refida TUTIĆ

17/05/1957

Nusreta HADŽIBULIĆ

05/06/1965

Bahrija RAGIPOVIĆ

25/01/1967

Iso NUMANOVIĆ

12/04/1948

Mujesira DAZDAREVIĆ

10/06/1965

Sadik HUSOVIĆ

23/05/1953

Ramiza HADŽIĆ

25/02/1966

Indira DREKOVIĆ

29/11/1966

Vahida OMEROVIĆ

11/11/1967

Zekrija HADŽIĆ

05/05/1969

Šefika BEJTOVIĆ

20/06/1967

Vezira TUTIĆ

05/08/1967

Hamza MEDOVIĆ

04/02/1964

Mersada TUTIĆ

25/02/1971

Fatima ŠMAKOVIĆ

03/02/1968

Senada HAMZAGIĆ

08/06/1964

Zumreta KAÄŒAPOR

09/01/1964

Sabaheta DAZDAREVIĆ

15/09/1961

Mersada BRONJA

07/11/1969

Mevljudin BULJEVIĆ

12/02/1966

Nazim ĆATOVIĆ

08/10/1953

Senadija KOLAÅ INAC

10/02/1972

Jasmina ZEKOVIĆ

10/01/1968

Sadija PLOJOVIĆ

06/06/1965

Šefćeta ČEKRLIĆ

18/05/1963

Džemka ŠABOVIĆ

24/11/1965

Hatidža PLJAKIĆ

15/03/1972

Sanija ETEMOVIĆ

15/07/1967

Nusreta ADEMOVIĆ

07/09/1968

Dragoslava ĐOKOVIĆ

17/02/1968

Altuna MULIĆ

02/09/1965

Raško MILOSAVLJEVIĆ

22/09/1970

Ifeta NURKOVIĆ

02/01/1968

Sadija KALAÄŒ

20/10/1964

Mirsada SUJKOVIĆ

02/01/1969

Commercial Court in Kraljevo, 27/11/2003

(199 decisions rendered by the same court on the same date)

03/03/2004

pending

More than 16 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 13 day(s)

1,000

250[1] Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.

[2] Less any amounts which may have already been paid in that regard at the domestic level.

[3] Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.

[4] Pursued by heir: Amela HOT, born 21/10/1987

[5] Pursued by heir: Haris TAHIROVIĆ, born 25/02/1998

[6] Pursued by heir: Iso NUMANOVIĆ, born 12/04/1948, who is also one of the applicants in the present case (see below)

[7] Pursued by heir: Fehim PEPIĆ, born 24/01/1954

[8] Pursued by heir: Ganija DREKOVIĆ, born 15/09/1986

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CASE OF OMEROVIĆ AND OTHERS v. SERBIA

CASE OF OMEROVIĆ AND OTHERS v. SERBIA

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