The European Commission has asked the Netherlands to explain why it broke EU rules and announced the results of Thursday’s EU parliamentary vote ahead of the Sunday deadline.

News agency ANP reports that Brussels will fine the Netherlands if the country is found to have ignored the official rules.
‘We want to know what information was published by whom at what time,’ ANP quoted a commission spokesman as saying.
Brussels wanted the results of all 27 national ballots to be announced at the same time on Sunday to prevent early elections influencing the outcome of others. Only the Netherlands and Britain held their election on Thursday and the British results are being kept secret.
For the EU statement, click here