Resolution ResDH (2002)79 concerning the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of 8 March 2001, final on 8 June 2001 in the case of Minnema against Portugal

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 24 June 2002 at the 798th 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 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the Minnema case delivered on 8 March 2001 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. 39300/98) against Portugal, lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 3 November 1997 under former Article 25 of the Convention by Mr Abraham Minnema , a Swedish national, and that the Court, seized 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 8 March 2001 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, 900 000 Portuguese escudos in respect of non-pecuniary damage, 250 000 Portuguese escudos together with any sums that might be payable in respect of any VAT in respect of costs and expenses 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 8 March 2001, having regard to Portugal’s obligation under Article 46, paragraph 1, of the Convention to abide by it, in particular by putting an end to the violations found and to redress their effects as far as possible;

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;

Noting with satisfaction that, as regards the applicant’s individual situation, the proceedings, which were pending before the national courts at the time of the delivery of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, were put to an end by a judgment delivered on 18 October 2001 by the Supreme Court of Justice;

Having satisfied itself that on 21 August 2001, within the time-limit set, the government of the respondent state had paid the applicant the sums provided for in the judgment of 8 March 2001,

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.