FIRST SECTION
\nCASE OF VENUSTAS KFT v. HUNGARY
\n(Application no. 63997\/19)
\nJUDGMENT
\nSTRASBOURG
\n21 January 2021<\/p>\n
This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.<\/p>\n
In the case of VenustasKft v. Hungary,<\/strong><\/p>\n The European Court of Human Rights (First Section), sitting as a Committee composed of:<\/p>\n Krzysztof Wojtyczek, President, Having deliberated in private on 17 December 2020,<\/p>\n Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:<\/p>\n PROCEDURE<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. The case originated in an application against Hungary lodged with the Court under Article\u00a034 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (\u201cthe Convention\u201d) on 6\u00a0December2019.<\/p>\n 2. The applicant was represented by Mr L. L\u00e9k\u00f3, a lawyer practising in Budapest.<\/p>\n 3. The Hungarian Government (\u201cthe\u00a0Government\u201d) were given notice of the application.<\/p>\n THE FACTS<\/strong><\/p>\n 4. The applicant\u2019s details and information relevant to the application are set out in the appended table.<\/p>\n 5. The applicant complained under Article 6 of the Convention of the excessive length of civil proceedings.<\/p>\n THE LAW<\/strong><\/p>\n I. ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE\u00a06 \u00a7 1 OF THE CONVENTION<\/p>\n 6. The applicant complainedthat the length of the civil proceedings in question had been incompatible with the \u201creasonable time\u201d requirement. He relied on Article\u00a06 \u00a7 1 of the Convention, which reads as follows:<\/p>\n Article\u00a06\u00a0\u00a7\u00a01<\/p>\n \u201cIn the determination of his civil rights and obligations … everyone is entitled to a … hearing within a reasonable time by [a] … tribunal …\u201d<\/p>\n 7. The Court reiterates that the reasonableness of the length of proceedings must be assessed in the light of the circumstances of the case and with reference to the following criteria: the complexity of the case, the conduct of the applicant and the relevant authorities and what was at stake for the applicant in the dispute (see Frydlender v.\u00a0France [GC], no.\u00a030979\/96, \u00a7\u00a043, ECHR 2000-VII).<\/p>\n 8. In the leading case of Gazs\u00f3 v. Hungary, no. 48322\/12, 16 July 2015, the Court already found a violation in respect of issues similar to those in the present case.<\/p>\n 9. Having examined all the material submitted to it, the Court has not found any fact or argument capable of justifying the overall length of the proceedings at the national level. Having regard to its case-law on the subject, the Court considers that in the instant case the length of the proceedings was excessive and failed to meet the \u201creasonable time\u201d requirement.<\/p>\n 10. These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Article\u00a06 \u00a7 1 of the Convention.<\/p>\n II. APPLICATION OF ARTICLE\u00a041 OF THE CONVENTION<\/p>\n 11. Article 41 of the Convention provides:<\/p>\n \u201cIf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 12. Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case\u2011law, the Court considers it reasonable to award the sum indicated in the appended table.<\/p>\n 13. 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.<\/p>\n FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT, UNANIMOUSLY,<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Declares the application admissible;<\/p>\n 2. Holds that it discloses a breach of Article\u00a06 \u00a7 1 of the Convention concerning the excessive length of civil proceedings;<\/p>\n 3. Holds<\/p>\n (a) that the respondent State is to pay the applicant, within three months, the amount indicated in the appended table, to be converted into the currency of the respondent State at the rate applicable at the date of settlement;<\/p>\n (b) that from the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement simple interest shall be payable on the above amount at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points.<\/p>\n Done in English, and notified in writing on 21 January 2021, pursuant to Rule\u00a077\u00a0\u00a7\u00a7\u00a02 and\u00a03 of the Rules of Court.<\/p>\n Liv Tigerstedt\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Krzysztof Wojtyczek ____________<\/p>\n APPENDIX<\/strong> [1]<\/a> Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicant.<\/p>\n
\nLinos-Alexandre Sicilianos,
\nErik Wennerstr\u00f6m, judges,
\nand LivTigerstedt,ActingDeputy Section Registrar,<\/p>\n
\nActing Deputy Registrar\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 President<\/p>\n
\nApplication raising complaints under Article 6 \u00a7 1 of the Convention
\n(excessive length of civil proceedings)<\/p>\n\n\n
\n Application no.<\/strong>
\nDate of introduction<\/strong><\/td>\nApplicant\u2019s name<\/strong>
\nYear of registration<\/strong>
\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nRepresentative\u2019s name and location<\/strong><\/td>\n Start of proceedings<\/strong><\/td>\n End of proceedings<\/strong><\/td>\n Total length<\/strong>
\nLevels of jurisdiction<\/strong><\/td>\nAmount awarded for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and costs and expenses per applicant<\/strong>
\n(in euros)[1]<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n 63997\/19
\n06\/12\/2019<\/td>\nVENUSTAS KFT<\/strong>
\n1991<\/td>\nL\u00e9k\u00f3 L\u00e1szl\u00f3
\nBudapest<\/td>\n10\/07\/2014<\/td>\n 16\/06\/2019<\/td>\n 4 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 7 day(s)
\n2 level(s) of jurisdiction<\/td>\n2,600<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n