32541/96

FIRST SECTION             CASE OF CELONA v. ITALY   (Application no. 32541/96)                       JUDGMENT (Friendly Settlement)     STRASBOURG   21 February 2002       In the case of Celona v. Italy, The European Court of Human Rights (First Section), sitting as a Chamber composed of:  Mr C.L. Rozakis, President,  Mrs F. Tulkens,  Mr P. Lorenzen,  Mrs N. Vajić,  Mr E. Levits,  Mr A. Kovler, judges,  Mr G. Raimondi, ad hoc judge, and Mr E. Fribergh, Section Registrar, Having deliberated in private on 31 January 2002, Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date: PROCEDURE 1.  The case originated in an application (no. 32541/96) against the Italian Republic lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights (“the Commission”) under former Article 25 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by an Italian national, Mr Pietro Celona (“the applicant”), on 6 May 1996. 2.  The applicant was represented by Mr. A. Arcangeli, a lawyer practising in Florence. The Italian Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr U. Leanza, and by their co-agent, Mr V. Esposito. 3.  The applicant complained about his prolonged inability - through lack of police assistance - to recover possession of his apartment and about the duration of the eviction proceedings. 4.  On 22 March 2001, after obtaining the parties’ observations, the Court declared the application admissible. 5.  On 17 October 2001 and on 7 November 2001, the applicant and the Agent of the Government respectively submitted formal declarations proposing a friendly settlement of the case. THE FACTS 6.  G.L. and S.L. were the owners of an apartment in Florence, which they had let to C.R. 7.  In a writ served on the tenant on 18 September 1984, they communicated their intention to terminate the lease and summoned the tenant to appear before the Florence Magistrate. 8.  By a decision of 3 December 1984, which was made enforceable on 5 July 1986, the Florence Magistrate upheld the validity of the notice to quit and ordered that the premises be vacated by 15 January 1988. 9.  On 14 December 1988, the applicant became the owner of the apartment. 10.  On 10 May 1990, the applicant served notice on the tenant requiring her to vacate the premises. 11.  On 29 January 1991, he served notice on the tenant informing her that the order for possession would be enforced by a bailiff on 1 July 1991. 12.  On an unspecified date, the applicant made a statutory declaration that he urgently required the premises as accommodation for himself. Between 1 July 1991 and 5 February 1999, the bailiff made nineteen attempts to recover possession. Each attempt proved unsuccessful, as the applicant was never granted the assistance of the police in enforcing the order for possession. 13.  On 30 May 1999, the tenant vacated the premises. THE LAW 14.  On 17 October 2001, the Court received the following declaration from the Government: “I declare that the Government of Italy offer to pay 45,000,000 ITL to Mr Pietro Celona with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the application registered under no. 32541/96. This sum shall cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs, and it will be payable within three months starting from the notification of the judgment delivered by the Court pursuant to Article 39 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This payment will constitute the final resolution of the case. This declaration does not entail any acknowledgement by the Government of a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights in the present case. The Government further undertake not to request the referral of the case to the Grand Chamber under Article 43 § 1 of the Convention.” 15.  On 7 November 2001, the Court received from the applicant’s representative the following declaration signed by the applicant: “I note that the Government of Italy are prepared to pay a sum totalling 45,000,000 ITL covering both pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and costs to Mr Pietro Celona with a view to securing a friendly settlement of application no. 32541/96 pending before the Court. I accept the proposal and waive any further claims in respect of Italy relating to the facts of this application. I declare that the case is definitely settled. This declaration is made in the context of a friendly settlement, which the Government and the applicant have reached. I further undertake not to request the referral of the case to the Grand Chamber under Article 43 § 1 of the Convention after the delivery of the Court’s judgment.” 16.  The Court takes note of the agreement reached between the parties (Article 39 of the Convention). It is satisfied that the settlement is based on respect for human rights as defined in the Convention or its Protocols (Article 37 § 1 in fine of the Convention and Rule 62 § 3 of the Rules of Court). 17.  Accordingly, the case should be struck out of the list. FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT UNANIMOUSLY 1.  Decides to strike the case out of the list;   2.  Takes note of the parties’ undertaking not to request a rehearing of the case before the Grand Chamber. Done in English, and notified in writing on 21 February 2002, pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.  Erik Fribergh Christos Rozakis  Registrar President