First Page

1. An application is initially considered by a committee of three judges and may bedeclared inadmissible immediately and without a further reading;

2. If, however, the application prima facie seems admissible it will be passed to a chamber of seven judges;

3. This chamber, if it finds the application admissible, will proceed to examine the merits of the case and will seek to achieve a friendly settlement;

4. In the absence of such a settlement, the chamber will issue a judgment. This judgment will be final unless important issues arise within three months;

5. In such an event, the judgment will be referred to a Grand Chamber of seventeen judges. Their judgment is final and may not be appealed;

6. If an alleged violation is upheld by the Court, the responsibility lies with the defendant state to take the appropriate action to make good the identified deficiency. A state at fault may be required to pay compensation.