PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 38049/02) against the Republic of Poland lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by a Polish national, Mr Andreas Kaniewski (“the applicant”), on 14 October 2002.

The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agents, Mr K. Drzewicki and, subsequently, Ms S. Jaczewska, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On 17 December 2002 the Court decided to communicate the complaint concerning the length of the proceedings to the Government. Applying Article 29 § 3 of the Convention, it decided to rule on the admissibility and merits of the application at the same time.

THE FACTS

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicant was born in 1940 and lives in Köln, Germany.

On 14 October 1993 the applicant lodged an application with the Warsaw Śródmieście Municipality (Urząd Gminy Warszawa Śródmieście). He asked for the right to the grant of so-called “temporary ownership” of the property (a plot of land and a house).

On 18 August 1995 the Warsaw Śródmieście Municipality referred the application to the Warsaw Municipality (Urząd Gminy Warszawa Centrum).

On 13 November 1995 the applicant complained to the Self-Government Board of Appeal (Samorządowe Kolegium Odwoławcze) that the Mayor of Warsaw (Prezydent Warszawy) had failed to handle his case within the prescribed time-limit.

On 28 December 1995 the Board of Appeal ordered the Mayor to deal with the applicant’s application within a month.

On 29 March 1996 the Mayor stayed the proceedings.

The Board of Appeal quashed that decision on 17 March 1997.

On 20 August 1998 the applicant complained to the Self-Government Board of Appeal about inactivity on the part of the Mayor of Warsaw.

On 17 September 1998 the Mayor issued a decision. He refused to grant the applicant the right he sought. In consequence, the applicant withdrew his complaint of 20 August 1998.

On 20 April 1999 the Board of Appeal quashed the Mayor’s decision and remitted the case.

The Mayor upheld his original decision on 30 November 1999.

On the same day the applicant appealed to the Board of Appeal.

The Board of Appeal quashed the Mayor’s decision on 7 June 2000.

On 8 January 2002 the applicant complained to the Self-Government Board of Appeal that the Mayor had failed to handle his case within the prescribed time-limit.

On 10 June 2002 the Board ordered the Mayor to deal with the case by 30 June 2002.

On 24 September 2003 the Mayor of Warsaw refused to grant the applicant temporary ownership of the property.

The Self-Government Board of Appeal quashed that decision and remitted the case on 29 April 2004.

The proceedings are still pending.