2009-06-05 14:01:04 -

BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Commission says it is demanding the Netherlands explain why it released national results for European elections before other EU nations finished voting.
EU spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio says the publication of unofficial Dutch late Thursday did «not comply with the spirit» of the EU vote.
Under EU rules, nations release the official results of European elections at the end of the four-day elections on Sunday.

Commission officials would not say Friday what steps they could take if the Dutch were found to have violated EU rules. Countries that run foul of EU laws can face legal action at the EU's Court of Justice.
Dutch authorities escaped a lawsuit after releasing unofficial results during the 2004 EU elections.