Final Resolution DH (2000) 90

Human Rights

Application No. 29024/95

P.S. against the Slovak Republic

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 24 July 2000 at the 716th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)

The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 32 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”),

Having regard to Interim Resolution DH (99) 429, adopted on 9 June 1999 in the case of P.S. against the Slovak Republic, in which the Committee of Ministers decided that there had been violations of Article 6, paragraph 1, of the Convention on account of the excessive length of two sets of civil proceedings, and to make public the report of the European Commission of Human Rights;

Whereas the Committee of Ministers examined the proposals made by the Commission when transmitting its report as regards just satisfaction to be awarded to the applicant, proposals supplemented by a letter of the President of the Commission dated 30 October 1999;

Whereas at the 695th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies, the Committee of Ministers, agre e ing with the Commission’s proposals, held by a decision adopted on 14 February 2000, in accordance with Article 32, paragraph 2, of the Convention, that the Government of the respondent State was to pay the applicant as just satisfaction, within three months, a total sum of 126 000 Slovak crowns, and that interest should be payable on any unpaid sum, calculated on the basis of each full elapsed month of delay at the statutory rate applicable on the date of this decision, it being understood that the interest would accrue from the expiry of the time-limit until full payment was placed at the disposal of the applicant;

Whereas the Committee of Ministers invited the Government of the respondent State to inform it of the measures taken following its decisions of 9 June 1999 and 14 February 2000, having regard to the Slovak Republic’s obligation under Article 32, paragraph 4, of the Convention to abide by them;

Whereas during the examination of the case by the Committee of Ministers, the Government of the respondent State recalled that measures had already been taken to prevent new violations of the same kind as those found in this case, notably through important measures of information and awareness raising of the courts concerning a previous similar case, Preložník against the Slovak Republic, and through various administrative measures adopted consequently by the presidents of several courts to improve their internal organisation (see Resolution DH (99) 551 in the Preložník case), and indicated that the Commission’s report as well as the Committee of Ministers’ decisions had been sent out to the authorities directly concerned;

Whereas the Committee of Ministers satisfied itself that on 10 April 2000, within the time-limit set, the Government of the respondent State had paid the applicant the total sum of 126 000 Slovak crowns as just satisfaction,

Declares, after having taken note of the measures taken by the Government of the Slovak Republic, that it has exercised its fun c tions under Article 32 of the Convention in this case.