Strasbourg court calls on Hungary to shorten civil proceedings

Brussels, July 16 (MTI) – Based on European Commission data Hungary’s court system is efficient, an official judicial body said in response to a Strasbourg ruling concerning a lengthy labour dispute.

Hungary is in the top third on a European Commission list ranking the efficiency of rulings, the National Judicial Office (OBH) said in a statement on Thursday.

The European Court of Human Rights, ruling on a complaint lodged by a private individual concerning a six-year court case, called on Hungary to shorten civil proceedings. Hungary must pay the plaintiff 1,000 euros “in respect of non-pecuniary damages” and 2,400 euros in legal fees.

The court noted today 24 violations in 2014 regarding excessively lengthy civil proceedings and another 400 similar cases are pending a Strasbourg ruling. Further, there is no option to seek legal remedy if cases go on too long, it added.

The court has given Hungary a maximum of one year from the date on which this latest judgment becomes final to find an effective solution, though it will postpone taking up any similar new cases pending implementation of relevant measures by Hungary.

The OBH said 80 percent of the 1.5 million new cases filed to Hungarian courts each year come to a ruling within a year. Even in terms of the length of civil proceedings, Hungary ranks sixth in the European Union, based on data published in March, it added. Meanwhile, the OBH has already launched a programme to shorten ruling periods, and an action plan is being prepared to this end in cooperation with the presidents of judiciaries, the statement said.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters