Final resolution DH (2000) 6

HUMAN RIGHTS

APPLICATION No. 31800/96

RIBSTEIN A. AND M.  AGAINST FRANCE

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 14 February 2000 at the 695th 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) 366, adopted on 9 June 1999 in the case of Ribstein A. and M. against France, in which the Committee of Ministers decided that there had been in this case a violation of Article 6, paragraph 1, of the Convention due to the excessive length of certain proceedings concerning civil rights and obligations before the administrative courts, 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 applicants, proposals supplemented by a letter of the President of the Commission dated 26 May 1999;

Whereas at the 677th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies, the Committee of Ministers, agre e ing with the Commission’s proposals, held by a decision adopted on 15 July 1999, in accordance with Article 32, paragraph 2, of the Convention, that the Government of the respondent State was to pay each applicant as just satisfaction, within three months, 20 000 French francs in respect of non-pecuniary damage and 2 500 French francs in respect of costs and expenses, namely a total sum of 45 000 French francs, 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 applicants;

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 15 July 1999, having regard to France’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 avoid new violations of the same kind as the one found in this case, notably through the setting up of administrative courts of appeal, the redefinition of the competence of the Conseil d’Etat and the increase of personnel and means in order to speed up administrative proceedings (see Resolution DH (95) 254 in the case of Beaumartin against France), 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 5 October 1999, within the time-limit set, the Government of the respondent State had paid the applicants the total sum of 45 000 French francs as just satisfaction,

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