resolution DH (99) 12

HUMAN RIGHTS

APPLICATIONS Nos.  20728/92, 21995/93, 22996/93 and 23376/94

P.I., P.S., FOTOPOULOS AND MOSCHOPOULOU AGAINST GREECE

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 18 January 1999 at the 654th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)

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

Having regard to the report drawn up on 16 January 1996 by the European Commission of Human Rights in accordance with Article 31 of the Convention relating to the applications lodged respectively on 14 September 1992, 25 May 1993, 10 November 1993 and 25 January 1994 by four Greek nationals, Ms P.I., Mr P.S., Mr Apostolos Fotopoulos and Ms Maria Moschopoulou, against Greece;

Whereas on 19 February 1996 the Commission transmitted the said report to the Committee of Ministers and whereas the period of three months provided for in Article 32, paragraph 1, of the Convention has elapsed without the case having been brought before the European Court of Human Rights in pursuance of Art i cle 48 of the Co n vention;

Whereas in their applications, as declared admissible by the Commission on 17 May 1995, the applicants complained of the excessive length of certain proceedings concerning civil rights and obligations before the administrative courts;

Whereas in its report the Commission expressed, unanimously, the opinion that there had been a violation of Article 6, paragraph 1, of the Co n vention;

Whereas at the 571st meeting of the Ministers' Deputies, the Committee of Ministers, having voted in accordance with the provisions of Article 32, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and agreed with the opinion expressed by the Commission, held, by a decision adopted on 13 September 1996, that there had been in this case a violation of Article 6, par a graph 1, of the Convention;

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 12 July 1996;

Whereas at the 582nd meeting of the Deputies, the Committee of Ministers, agreeing with the Commission's proposals, held by a decision adopted on 28 January 1997, in accordance with Article 32, paragraph 2, of the Convention, that the government of the respondent State was to pay to each applicant as just satisfa c tion, within three months, 700 000 drachmas in respect of non-pecuniary damage and 2 000 French francs in respect of costs and expenses, and that interest should be payable on any unpaid sum, calculated on the basis of each full elapsed month of delay (in accordance with the decision adopted by the Committee of Ministers at its 599th meeting (17 September 1997) on the general princ i ples regarding the payment of default interest) 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 13 September 1996 and 28 January 1997, having regard to Greece’s obligation under Art i cle 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 accordingly indicated that the Commission's report had been sent out to the authorities directly concerned;

Whereas the Committee of Ministers satisfied itself that on 27 October 1997, the gover n ment of the respondent State paid the applicants the total sum awarded as just satisfaction, including the default interest due,

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

Authorises the publication of the report adopted by the Commission in this case.