To reform the electoral system of the European Parliament (EP), the Liberal Democrats began a process of litigation in the EC jurisdiction in October 1991. Pleadings were filed with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in February 1992. Notice of the case (C-41/92) was published in the EC's Official Journal C75 of 26 March (pp. 6-7). After an exchange of written evidence, the public hearing of the Case took place before all 13 judges in Luxembourg on 19 January 1993. Advocate-General Darmon delivered his report on 24 March 1993.
The Party sued the Parliament under Article 175 of the Treaty of Rome for failure to act to initiate electoral reform. No time limit was set by the Treaty, but the Liberal Democrats argued that a 15-year delay since the introduction of direct elections was more than adequate.
Finally, on 10 March 1993, the Parliament passed by 207 votes to 79 a final version of a report by the Liberal MEP, Karel De Gucht on proposals to introduce Proportional Representation for the 1994 elections. This constituted, to the satisfaction of the Liberal Democrats, a fulfillment of the EP's obligations under the terms of Article 138(3).

Material concerning the Liberal Democrats' action in the European Court of Justice, in pursuit of their longstanding ambition to reform the electoral system of the European Parliament where the Liberals began a process of litigation in the EC jurisdiction in October 1991. The party, which was supported in this action by the Federation of European Liberal and Democratic & Reform Parties (ELDR), sued the Parliament under Article 175 of the Treaty of Rome for failure to act to initiate electoral reform.

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