Resolution ResDH (2003)184

concerning the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights of 23 May 2002 (final on 23 August 2002) in 5 cases against Turkey (see Appendix) concerning the administration’s delay in payment of additional compensation for expropriation and the applicable rate of default interest

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 6 January 2004 at the 863rd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)

The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as amended by Protocol No. 11 (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”),

Having regard to the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in 5 cases, details of which appear in the appendix to this resolution, delivered on 23 May 2002 and transmitted to the Committee of Ministers once they had become final under Articles 44 and 46 of the Convention;

Recalling that these cases originated in applications against Turkey, lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 7 February 1996 and 15 April 1996 under former Article 25 of the Co n vention by 5 Turkish nationals, and that the Court, seised of these cases under Article 5, paragraph 2, of Protocol No. 11, declared admissible the complaints that there had been a breach of the applicants’ right to the peaceful enjoyment of their possessions due to the administration’s delay in paying additional compensation awarded by the domestic courts for the expropriation of the applicants’ properties and due to the loss of value this caused as a result of the substantial difference between the default interest rate applicable at the time and the average rate of inflation in Turkey;

Whereas in its judgments of 23 May 2002 concerning these cases the Court unanimously:

- held that there had been a violation of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention;

- held that the government of the respondent state was to pay the applicants, within three months from the date at which the judgments became final, the amounts of just satisfaction (for details see the table appended to the present resolution) awarded in euros to be converted into Turkish liras at the rate applicable on the date of settlement, and that simple interest at an annual rate of 4,26% would be payable on those sums from the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement;

- dismissed the remainder of the applicants’ claims for just satisfaction;

Having regard to the Rules adopted by the Committee of Ministers concerning the application of Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention;

Having invited the government of the respondent state to inform it of the mea s ures which had been taken in consequence of the judgments of 23 May 2002, having regard to Turkey’s obligation under Article 46, paragraph 1, of the Conve n tion to abide by it;

Whereas during the examination of the cases by the Committee of Ministers, the government of the respondent state recalled that measures had already been taken to avoid new, similar violations (see Resolutions ResDH (2001)70 and ResDH (2001)7 1 in the cases Aka and Akku ş against Turkey respectively), notably through the entry into force on 1 January 2000 of Law No. 4489, which brought the statutory rate of default interest into line with the annual rediscount rate applied by the Turkish Central Bank to short-term debts (the latter rate is fixed and permanently reviewed, taking into account particularly the country’s inflation rate), and indicated that the Court’s judgments had been sent out to the authorities directly concerned;

Having satisfied itself that, on the dates indicated in the Appendix, the government of the respondent state had paid the applicants, within the time-limit set, the sums provided for in the judgments of 23 May 2002 and that no other measure was required in the present cases to conform to the Court’s judgments,

Declares, after having examined the information supplied by the Government of Turkey, that it has exe r cised its functions under Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention in these cases.

Appendix to Resolution ResDH (2003)184

Details of the just satisfaction awarded to the applicants:

Case

Application No.

Non-pecuniary damage

Pecuniary damage

Total

Payment on

Temur Önel

30446/96

1 100 euros

87 700 euros

88 800 euros

07/11/02

Hacı Özel Bayram

30447/96

1 100 euros

126 000 euros

127 100 euros

25/10/02

Ahmet Önel

30448/96

1 100 euros

95 000 euros

96 100 euros

07/11/02

Mehmet Önel

30948/96

1 100 euros

87 700 euros

88 800 euros

07/11/02

Hacı Osman Özel

31964/96

1 100 euros

103 000 euros

104 100 euros

25/10/02