MENNESSON v. FRANCE JUDGMENT 1 In the case of Mennesson v. France, The European Court of Human Rights (Fifth Section), sitting as a Chamber composed of: Mark Villiger, President, Angelika Nußberger, Boštjan M. Zupančič, Ganna Yudkivska, Vincent A. De Gaetano, André Potocki, Aleš Pejchal, judges, and Claudia Westerdiek, Section Registrar, Having deliberated in private on 10 June 2014, Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date: PROCEDURE 1. The case originated in an application (no. 65192/11) against the French Republic lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by two French nationals, Mr Dominique Mennesson (“the first applicant”) and Ms Sylvie Mennesson (“the second applicant”), and two nationals of the United States of America, Ms Valentina Mennesson and Ms Fiorella Mennesson (“the third and fourth applicants”), on 6 October 2011. 2. The applicants were represented before the Court by Mr P. Spinosi, of the Conseil d’État and Court of Cassation Bar. The French Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Ms E. Belliard, Director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 3. On 12 February 2012 notice of the application was given to the Government and the President of the Section decided that the proceedings in the present case should be conducted simultaneously with those in the case of Labassee v. France (no. 65941/11). 4. The applicants and the Government each filed observations on the admissibility and merits of the case. 5. On 10 October 2013 the President of the Section decided, under Rule 54 § 2 (a) of the Rules of Court, to put additional questions to the applicants and the Government, who replied on 19 and 21 November 2013 respectively.