BALIC AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - 44080/16 (Judgment : Article 6 - Right to a fair trial : Fourth Section Committee) [2019] ECHR 501 (27 June 2019)

JUDGMENT STRASBOURG June 2019 This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision. In the case of Balić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina , The European Court of Human Rights ( Fourth Section ), sitting as a Committee composed of: Stéphanie Mourou-Vikström , President, Georges Ravarani , Jolien Schukking , judges , and Liv Tigerstedt Acting Deputy Section Registrar , Having deliberated in private on 6 June 2019, Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date: PROCEDURE 1. The case originated in applications against Bosnia and Herzegovina lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms ("the Convention") on the various dates indicated in the appended table . 2. The applicants were represented by Mr S. Zaklan , a lawyer practising in Mostar. 3. Notice of the application s was given to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina ("the Government"). THE FACTS 4. The list of applicant s and the relevant details of the applications are set out in the appended table. 5. The applicant s complained of the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions . THE LAW I. JOINDER OF THE APPLICATIONS 6. Having regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single judgment. II. ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 6 § 1 OF THE CONVENTION AND OF ARTICLE 1 OF PROTOCOL No. 7. The applicant s complained of the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions given in their favour . They relied, expressly or in substance, on Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and on Article 1 of Protocol No. , which read as follows: Article 6 § "In the determination of his civil rights and obligations ... everyone is entitled to a fair ... hearing ... by [a] ... tribunal ..." Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 "Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law. The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of a State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure the payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties." 8. The Court reiterates that the execution of a judgment given by any court must be regarded as an integral part of a "hearing" for the purposes of Article 6. It also refers to its case-law concerning the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of final domestic judgments (see Hornsby v. Greece , no. 18357/91 , § 40, Reports of Judgments and Decisions - II). 9. In the leading cases of Spahić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 20514/15 and 15 others, §§ 25-31, 14 November 2017, and Kunić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 68955/12 and 15 others, §§ - 31, 14 November 2017, the Court already found a violation in respect of issues similar to those in the present case. 10. The Court further notes that the decisions in the present applications ordered specific action to be taken. The Court therefore considers that the decisions in question constitute "possessions" within the meaning of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1. 11. Having examined all the material submitted to it, the Court has not found any fact or argument capable of persuading it to reach a different conclusion on the admissibility and merits of these complaints. Having regard to its case-law on the subject, the Court considers that in the instant case the authorities did not deploy all necessary efforts to enforce fully and in due time the decisions in the applicant s ' favour. 12. These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. . III. APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 41 OF THE CONVENTION 13. Article 41 of the Convention provides: "If the Court finds that there has been a violation of the Convention or the Protocols thereto, and if the internal law of the High Contracting Party concerned allows only partial reparation to be made, the Court shall, if necessary, afford just satisfaction to the injured party." 14. Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case - law (see, in particular, Spahić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 20514/15 and 15 others, §§ 36-43, 14 November 2017, and Kunić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 68955/12 and 15 others, §§ - 46, 14 November 2017), the Court considers it reasonable to award the sums indicated in the appended table. 15. The Court further notes that the respondent State has an outstanding obligation to enforce the judgments which remain enforceable . 16. The Court considers it appropriate that the default interest rate should be based on the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank, to which should be added three percentage points. FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT , UNANIMOUSLY, 1. Decides to join the applications; 2. Declares the applications admissible; 3. Holds that these applications disclose a breach of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. concerning the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions ; 4. Holds that the respondent State shall ensure, by appropriate means, within three months, the enforcement of the pending domestic decisions referred to in the appended table; 5. Holds (a) that the respondent State is to pay the applicant s , within three months, the amounts indicated in the appended table, to be converted into the currency of the respondent State at the rate applicable at the date of settlement; (b) that from the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement simple interest shall be payable on the above amounts at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points. Done in English, and notified in writing on June 2019 , pursuant to Rule §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court. Liv Tigerstedt Stéphanie Mourou-Vikström Acting Deputy Registrar President APPENDIX List of applications raising complaints under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of the Protocol No. 1 ( non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions ) No. Application no. Date of introduction Applicant ' s name Date of birth Relevant domestic decision Start date of non-enforcement period End date of non - enforcement period Length of enforcement proceedings Amount awarded for non-pecuniary damage per applicant ( in euros) [1] Amount awarded for costs and expenses per application (in euros) [2] 44080/16 20/07/2016 Izet Balić 05/01/1970 Mostar First Instance Court, 14/06/2012 17/01/2014 pending More than 5 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 13 day(s) 1,000 44091/16 20/07/2016 Hasnija Kisić 30/05/1970 Mostar Cantonal Court, 14/10/2010 03/02/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 27 day(s) 1,000 44107/16 20/07/2016 Alija Baljić 24/02/1965 Mostar Cantonal Court, 28/02/2011 28/04/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 2 day(s) 1,000 44133/16 20/07/2016 Armin Demić 02/12/1970 Ivan Zovko 20/10/1964 Mostar Cantonal Court, 11/08/2010 28/10/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 2 day(s) 1,000 44199/16 19/07/2016 (4 applicants) Adis Čomor 06/03/1977 Zuhra Elezović 01/01/1953 Almira Šuta 06/06/1979 Esad Aličić 12/01/1968 Mostar Cantonal Court, 21/10/2010 Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12/07/2011 08/03/2011 05/03/2012 pending More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 22 day(s) pending More than 7 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 25 day(s) 1,000 44201/16 19/07/2016 (4 applicants) Sedin Budim 30/11/1973 Alija Makan 11/02/1951 Vladimir Boltar 30/12/1967 Nermin Hondo 19/09/1966 Mostar Cantonal Court, 30/09/2010 18/01/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 12 day(s) 1,000 44288/16 20/07/2016 (3 applicants) Semir Balta 24/03/1962 Evelina Hasandedić 29/10/1962 Razija Tanović 20/08/1946 Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010 11/08/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 19 day(s) 1,000 44290/16 19/07/2016 (4 applicants) Slađan Goluža 27/10/1966 Ilija Rozić 07/10/1958 Miloš Vuković 22/12/1983 Nikica Šimunović 06/10/1968 Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/01/2010 21/04/2010 pending More than 9 year(s) and 9 day(s) 1,000 44335/16 19/07/2016 (3 applicants) Miralem Čopelj 12/11/1969 Aleksandar Ružičić 30/06/1981 Dževad Maksumić 06/06/1978 Mostar Cantonal Court, 19/05/2010 30/08/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) 1,000 44338/16 19/07/2016 (4 applicants) Ivica Arapović 21/01/1957 Salem Mehić 22/07/1953 Mustafa Gakić 02/11/1967 Almir Karkelja 20/05/1974 Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/11/2010 08/02/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 22 day(s) 1,000 44340/16 19/07/2016 (4 applicants) Emin Bilal 03/01/1971 Semir Tojaga 16/08/1968 Živko Janjić 11/08/1981 Admir Kaplan 22/06/1967 Mostar Cantonal Court, 01/10/2010 22/04/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 8 day(s) 1,000 44451/16 20/07/2016 Darko Bebek 16/06/1973 Edin Mujić 14/11/1974 Mostar First Instance Court, 17/09/2010 06/12/2011 pending More than 7 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 24 day(s) 1,000 44498/16 20/07/2016 Kemal Veledar 23/11/1975 Mostar Cantonal Court, 18/08/2010 10/02/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 20 day(s) 1,000 44510/16 20/07/2016 (3 applicants) Asim Maksumić 01/02/1970 Mustafa Šemić 14/05/1965 Osman Tule 17/05/1968 Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/11/2010 29/03/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 1 day(s) 1,000 44559/16 20/07/2016 Belmin Šunje 14/10/1971 Mostar Cantonal Court, 17/06/2010 18/01/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 12 day(s) 1,000 44574/16 20/07/2016 Sead Čobić 15/04/1968 Enes Maksumić 11/08/1969 Mostar Cantonal Court, 27/05/2010 30/08/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) 1,000 44587/16 20/07/2016 Božidar Rozić 25/11/1965 Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010 08/12/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 22 day(s) 1,000 45271/16 19/07/2016 (3 applicants) Senad Elezović 27/02/1964 Ramiz Hasić 25/02/1961 Nermin Salčin 06/01/1975 Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/09/2010 24/02/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 6 day(s) 1,000 45394/16 19/07/2016 (3 applicants) Osman Bobar 17/07/1959 Semir Bašinac 03/01/1972 Fahrudin Sabitović 10/03/1971 Mostar Cantonal Court, 06/05/2010 09/09/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 21 day(s) 1,000 45455/16 19/07/2016 (4 applicants) Ferdo Buntić 23/09/1962 Mirsad Mičijević 08/05/1966 Ćamil Šahinagić 07/08/1975 Petar Golemac 10/11/1958 Mostar Cantonal Court, 01/04/2010 27/09/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 3 day(s) 1,000 45661/16 19/07/2016 (4 applicants) Asim Džafić 10/04/1967 Sulejman Ćorić 25/03/1962 Vaso Kisić 12/10/1968 Gordan Zovko 22/10/1970 Mostar Cantonal Court, 27/05/2010 24/09/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 6 day(s) 1,000 46998/16 19/07/2016 (3 applicants) Omer Stiglić 14/10/1953 Armin Sjekirica 08/05/1988 Zdravko Martinović 21/03/1961 Mostar First Instance Court, 20/09/2010 22/02/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 8 day(s) 1,000 47001/16 19/07/2016 Ismet Đipa 11/10/1969 Mostar First Instance Court, 18/11/2010 21/12/2011 pending More than 7 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 9 day(s) 1,000 47018/16 18/07/2016 Hamid Teletović 01/01/1997 Nusret Maksumić 01/11/1966 Mostar Cantonal Court, 08/09/2010 15/12/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 15 day(s) 1,000 47024/16 18/07/2016 Sanela Krhan 14/09/1969 Mostar First Instance Court, 30/12/2009 24/12/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 6 day(s) 1,000 47026/16 18/07/2016 Ivanka Prusina 11/02/1963 Mostar First Instance Court, 24/02/2014 10/06/2015 pending More than 3 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 20 day(s) 1,000 47069/16 19/07/2016 Ibrahim Nikšić 06/06/1970 Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/11/2010 24/05/2011 pending More than 7 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 6 day(s) 1,000 47084/16 19/07/2016 (4 applicants) Pavo Burić 05/09/1961 Adnan Padalović 01/07/1973 Ibro Bubalo 27/10/1971 Anto Miličević 16/08/1955 Mostar Cantonal Court, 22/06/2011 09/11/2011 pending More than 7 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) 1,000 47087/16 19/07/2016 Almir Cokoja 13/01/1965 Ismail Kadić 11/05/1973 Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/02/2011 06/04/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 24 day(s) 1,000 47180/16 18/07/2016 (4 applicants) Kemal Đono 11/02/1961 Omer Hebib 27/07/1959 Senad Grizović 26/09/1972 Alen Omanić 14/01/1977 Mostar Cantonal Court, 11/08/2010 20/12/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 10 day(s) 1,000 47231/16 18/07/2016 Milenko Drinovac 19/04/1972 Fahrudin Gusić 22/11/1967 Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/08/2010 11/11/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 19 day(s) 1,000 47246/16 18/07/2016 Zaim Ćorić 10/04/1971 Mostar Cantonal Court, 26/01/2011 29/03/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 1 day(s) 1,000 47354/16 18/07/2016 Mate Primorac 28/12/1969 Mostar Cantonal Court, 09/02/2011 12/07/2011 pending More than 7 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 18 day(s) 1,000 47357/16 18/07/2016 Safet Puce 01/10/1965 Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/09/2010 07/03/2011 pending More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 23 day(s) 1,000 47361/16 18/07/2016 Miralem Brajević 16/08/1968 Vido Marić 31/10/1975 Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/05/2010 26/08/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 4 day(s) 1,000 47729/16 18/07/2016 (5 applicants) Karmela Petković 21/11/1963 Slavka Krtalić 15/10/1956 Irena Zadro 01/09/1965 Branka Vidačak 09/01/1962 Ivka Pravidur 15/10/1956 Mostar First Instance Court, 07/07/2011 30/11/2011 pending More than 7 year(s) and 5 month(s) 1,000 47759/16 18/07/2016 (3 applicants) Miro Boras 25/09/1979 Nermin Kuko 02/04/1972 Zijo Đulić 15/03/1962 Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010 28/09/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 2 day(s) 1,000 47760/16 18/07/2016 Devleta Bećirspahić 09/12/1981 Mostar Cantonal Court, 06/04/2010 23/08/2010 pending More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 7 day(s) 1,000 [1] . Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants. [2] . Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants. BAILII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Donate to BAILII