§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What mechanisms exist to ensure that Turkey pays the £1.2 million in fines imposed on it by the European Court of Human Rights in 950 separate cases so far completed; and whether some, or any, of these fines have not been paid. [HL2980]
§ Baroness Symons of Verham DeanAccording to statistics provided by the Council of Europe, 972 cases have been referred to the European Court of Human Rights since 1960 in respect of all states parties to the European Convention on Human Rights. Forty-four of these cases were brought against Turkey. The Court has found at least one violation and awarded just satisfaction in 18 of these 44 cases. Turkey has paid non-pecuniary damages, pecuniary damages or costs and expenses in nine of the 18 cases, and paid part of the award of just satisfaction in a further three cases. Payment is outstanding in six cases. In three of the six outstanding308WA cases the time limit set by the Court for payment of just satisfaction has not yet expired.
Under the procedure set out in Article 32 of the Convention, the Committee of Ministers' Deputies has found at least one violation and awarded just satisfaction in a further seven cases against Turkey. Turkey has paid non-pecuniary damages and costs and expenses in six of the seven cases and payment is outstanding in one case.