MATTHEWS v. THE UNITED KINGDOM JUDGMENT 3 6. In accordance with the President’s decision, a hearing took place in public in the Human Rights Building, Strasbourg, on 19 November 1998. There appeared before the Court: (a) for the Government Mr M. EATON, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr D. ANDERSON, Barrister-at-Law, Ms D. COLLINS, Cabinet Office Legal Advisers, Ms C. POWER, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Advisers; (b) for the applicant Mr M. LLAMAS, Barrister-at-Law, Mr L. BAGLIETTO, Barrister, Mr F. PICARDO, Barrister, Mr R. BENZAQUEN, Legislation Support Unit, Gibraltar, Counsel, Adviser; (c) for the Commission Mr J.-C. SOYER, Ms M.-T. SCHOEPFER, Agent, Counsel, Delegate, Secretary to the Commission. The Court heard addresses by Mr Soyer, Mr Llamas and Mr Anderson. THE FACTS I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE 7. On 12 April 1994 the applicant applied to the Electoral Registration Officer for Gibraltar to be registered as a voter at the elections to the European Parliament. The Electoral Registration Officer replied on 25 April 1994: “The provisions of Annex II of the EC Act on Direct Elections of 1976 limit the franchise for European parliamentary elections to the United Kingdom [see paragraph 18 below]. This Act was agreed by all member States and has treaty status. This means that Gibraltar will not be included in the franchise for the European parliamentary elections.”