CHAPTER VII OPINIONS Article 96 1. Any request by any of the institutions of the Community, for an Opinion pursuant to Articles 10 of the Protocol shall be served on the Chief Registrar, who shall immediately inform member states, notifying them of the time limit fixed by the President for receipt of their written observations or for hearing their Oral declarations. 2. The request for advisory opinion as contained in paragraph 1 of Article 10 shall be made in writing. 3. The request shall contain a statement of the question upon which the advisory opinion is required. 4. The statement shall be accompanied by all relevant documents likely to throw light upon the question. 5. The Court shall give the advisory opinion in public. 6. In the exercise of its advisory function, the Court shall be governed by the provisions of the Protocol, which applied in contentious cases where the Court recognizes them to be applicable. Article 97 1. As soon as the request for an Advisory Opinion has been lodged, the President shall designate a judge to act as Rapporteur 2. The Court sitting in closed session shall, after hearing the Judge give its decision. 3. The Opinion shall be delivered in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 of the Protocol. 4. The Opinion, signed by the President, by the Judges who took part in the Deliberations and by the Chief Registrar, shall be served on the Institution concerned.