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19/06/2019
PL: The Supreme Administrative Court ruled on the use of an effective waiver of the right to appeal return decisions.

ECLI
Input Provided By
EUAA IDS
Source
EDAL
Other Source/Information:
EDAL
Referral to the CJEU
No
Original Documents
Type
Judgment
Relevant Legislative Provisions
National law only (in case there is no reference to EU law/ECHR);
Reference
Poland, Supreme Administrative Court [Naczelny Sąd Administracyjny], Applicant v Voivodship Administrative Court in Warsaw [Decision of 25.10.2018 no. sygn. akt IV SA/Wa 1296/18], OSK 1849/19, 19 June 2019. Link redirects to the English summary in the EUAA Case Law Database.
Permanent link to the case
https://caselaw.euaa.europa.eu/pages/viewcaselaw.aspx?CaseLawID=946
Case history
Related cases:
Abstract

According to EDAL

The case concerned a Chechen national who lodged an application for international protection in Poland, before moving to Germany. The applicant was returned to Poland under the Dublin III Regulation. Following their return, the applicant was issued with a return order to Russia. At this time, the applicant signed a waiver of right to appeal against the decision, where it is alleged that the applicant declared voluntary return to Russia. The authorities also stated that a Russian translator had interpreted the statement about the possibility of waiving the right to appeal against the return decision. After meeting with their lawyer, the applicant appealed the decision. The Head of the Office for Foreigners declared the appeal inadmissible as the applicant had waived the right to appeal against the return decision.

On appeal to the Warsaw Administrative Court, it was argued that the applicant was not aware that she was signing a document waiving the appeal against the decision. Moreover, it was submitted that the return proceedings against the applicant were carried out in conditions of imprisonment in a Border Guard facility where the applicant did not have effective access to legal assistance. The decision was overturned and the Office for Foreigners lodged a cassation complaint against this judgment.
 
The SAC stated that the applicant should be informed in writing about the consequences of waiving the right to appeal. In particular, individuals should be informed that the waiver of the right to appeal renders an appeal against a return decision inadmissible. In this regard, the SAC emphasized that such an act means that the individual cannot exercise their right to a Court guaranteed by the Polish Constitution and Article 13(1) of Directive 2008/115. According to the SAC, the provisions regarding the waiver of these rights should be interpreted strictly and without prejudice to their fundamental nature.

Country of Decision
Poland
Court Name
PL: Supreme Administrative Court [Naczelny Sąd Administracyjny]
Case Number
OSK 1849/19
Date of Decision
19/06/2019
Country of Origin
Keywords
Assessment of Application
Dublin procedure
Effective remedy
Renewal/Withdrawal/Revocation of Protection
Return/Removal/Deportation