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European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), December 17, 2020
ECtHR 17 December 2020, application no. 73544/14 (Novaković), Age Discrimination, Race, Nationality Discrimination, Other Fundamental Rights
Mile Novaković – v – Croatia

Summary

Unjustified dismissal of Serbian ethnic origin teacher for failing to use standard Croatian in class, considered unable to adapt due to pre-retirement age.

Ruling

The Court

  • Holds, unanimously, that the applicant’s heirs have standing to pursue the application in his stead and dismisses the Government’s objection in that respect;
  • Declares, unanimously, the application admissible;
  • Holds, by six votes to one, that there has been a violation of Article 8 of the Convention;
  • Holds, by six votes to one, that there is no need to examine separately the complaints under Article 14 taken in conjunction with Article 8 of the Convention and under Article 1 of Protocol No. 12 to the Convention;
  • Holds, by six votes to one,
    • (a)  that the respondent State is to pay the applicant, within three months from the date on which the judgment becomes final in accordance with Article 44 § 2 of the Convention, the following amounts, to be converted into the currency of the respondent State at the rate applicable at the date of settlement:
      • (i)  EUR 5,000 (five thousand euros), plus any tax that may be chargeable, in respect of non-pecuniary damage;
      • (ii)  EUR 850 (eight hundred and fifty euros), plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicant, in respect of costs and expenses;
    • (b)  that from the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement simple interest shall be payable on the above amounts at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points.