VAN GEYSEGHEM v. BELGIUM - 26103/95

The European Court of Human Rights, sitting, in accordance with Article 27 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”), as amended by Protocol No. 11 [1] , and the relevant provisions of the Rules of Court 2 , as a Grand Chamber composed of the following judges:

The case was referred to the Court, as established under former Article 19 of the Convention [3] , by the Belgian Government (“the Government”) on 9 April 1998 and by Mrs Nicole Van Geyseghem, a Belgian national (“the applicant”), on 10 April 1998, within the three-month period laid down by former Articles 32 § 1 and 47 of the Convention. It originated in an application (no. 26103/95) against the Kingdom of Belgium lodged by Mrs Van Geyseghem with the European Commission of Human Rights (“the Commission”) under former Article 25 on 25 October 1994.

The Government’s application referred to former Articles 44 and 48, and that of the applicant to former Article 48, as amended by Protocol No. 9 [2] , which Belgium had ratified. The object of the applications was to obtain a decision as to whether the facts of the case disclosed a breach by the respondent State of its obligations under Article 6 §§ 1 and 3 (c) of the Convention.

On 28 April 1998 the applicant designated the lawyer who would represent her (Rule 31 of former Rules of Court B [2] ).

On 12 November 1998 the Commission produced the file on the proceedings before it, as requested by the Registrar on the President’s instructions.