Resolution ResDH (2003)23 concerning the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of 23 November 1999 (final on 23 February 2000) in the case of Galinho Carvalho Matos against Portugal

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 24 February 2003 at the 827th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputie s)

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 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Galinho Carvalho Matos delivered on 23 November 1999 and transmitted to the Committee of Ministers once it had become final under Articles 44 and 46 of the Convention;

Recalling that the case originated in an application (No. 35593/97) against Portugal, lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 6 March 1997 under former Article 25 of the Convention by Ms Maria José Galinho Carvalho Matos, a Portuguese national, and that the Court, seised of the case under Article 5, paragraph 2, of Protocol No. 11, declared admissible the complaint concerning the excessive length of certain civil proceedings;

Whereas in its judgment of 23 November 1999 the Court unanimously:

- held that there had been a violation of Article 6, paragraph 1, of the Convention;

- held that the government of the respondent state was to pay the applicant, within three months from the date at which the judgment became final, 1 000 000 Portuguese escudos in respect of non-pecuniary damage and that simple interest at an annual rate of 7% would be payable on this sum from the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement;

- dismissed the remainder of the applicant’s claim 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 measures which had been taken in consequence of the judgment of 23 November 1999, having regard to Portugal’s obligation under Article 46, paragraph 1, of the Convention to abide by it;

Noting with satisfaction that, as regards the applicant’s individual situation, the proceedings, which were pending before the Almada court at the time of the delivery of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, were put to an end by a decision the serviço de Recuperaçao de Pendênçiãs Acumuladas nos Tribunais da Comarca de Lisboa on 24 October 2002;

Whereas during the examination of the case by the Committee of Ministers, the government of the respondent state indicated that the Court’s judgment had been sent out to the authorities directly concerned and that the question of the length of judicial proceedings was being examined in order to verify that such proceedings can be concluded within a reasonable time;

Having satisfied itself that on 20 April 2000, within the time-limit set, the government of the respondent state had paid the applicant the sum provided for in the judgment of 23 November 1999,

Declares, after having taken note of the information supplied by the Government of Portugal, that it has exercised its functions under Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention in this case.