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Table of contents
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1
ENGAGEMENT AND ACTIVITY OF THE
AUSTRIAN OMBUDSMAN BOARD (AOB) ............................................ 7
1.1
Development of activities ...................................................................................... 7
1.2
Completed cases ................................................................................................ 10
1.3
Contacts with citizens and authorities regarding investigative
proceedings in 2003 ........................................................................................... 11
1.4
Information service ............................................................................................ 11
2
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS SECTION ..................................................... 12
2.1
Fundamental requirements under rule of law as set out in the Federal
Constitution (Art. 19 and 129 of the Federal Constitution) ......................... 12
2.1.1
Mandatory refund of costs in administrative court proceedings despite
granting of procedural assistance ........................................................................ 12
2.1.2
Giving incorrect notice on right of legal recourse (VA BD/321-V/03) ..................... 12
2.1.3
Prerequisites for substantiating grievances to the AOB (VA BD/57-V/03) ................ 13
2.2
Right to a reasonable duration of proceedings
(Art. 6 of the EHRC; rule-of-law principle;
Art. 41 of the EU Charter, codex for effective administration) ................... 14
2.2.1
General ............................................................................................................. 14
2.2.2
Individual cases ................................................................................................. 14
2.2.2.1
Court proceedings (VA BD/759-J/02, BD/234-J/03, BD/367-J/03) .......................... 14
2.2.2.2
Dragging out appeal proceedings (VA BD/76-V/00) .............................................. 14
2.2.2.3
Proceedings lasting five years upon issuing a BMLUW appeal ruling
(VA BD/78-LF/03, BMLF 13.812/26-I 3/2003) [Federal Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry, the Environment and Water Management] ........................... 15
2.2.2.4
Three instances of refusal to rule -BMLFUW (VA BD/156-LF/02, BMLF 680.255/17I6/02) [Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, the Environment and Water
Management] .................................................................................................... 15
2.2.2.5
Unreasonable delays in authorisation proceedings under water laws for
constructing a shore-protection facility – BH Neusiedl/See (BD/161-LF/02, BMLF
[Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry] 16.241/01-I6/03) ............................ 16
2.3
Principle of Equality
(Art. 7 of the Federal Constitution, Art. 2 of the StGG Act) ......................... 16
2.3.1
A. Legal Practice ................................................................................................ 16
2.3.1.1
1967 Family Allowance Act (VA BD/25-JF/02) [Familienlastenausgleichsgesetz] .... 16
2.3.1.2
Non-consideration of multiple births within the framework of
childcare-allowance funds ................................................................................... 17
V