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EU: Dutch Government Acts Against European Spirit

3,218 views · Published 5 June 2009 · 1:20 · Indexed 14 October 2026

Channel: Rapporteur News · 2009 · News & Politics

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The European Commission said on Friday it will ask the Dutch government to clarify why it released last night preliminary results of the European elections in The Netherlands. 

The early release does not comply with the spirit of the European elections, said a spokesperson, speaking French. 

"We, as guardian the treaties, have to take care that the current legal framework is observed," he said.

Here follows a translation of the statement in the video:

"What we are going to do is that we are going to ask the Dutch authorities for a clarification as to exactly what happened yesterday. Depending on what they tell us, we will check whether they have failed to comply with the community legislation.

I would like to say already that the events that took place in The Netherlands yesterday seem not to comply with the spirit of the European elections; this going beyond the purely national elections.

"on May 20th this year, the Commission reminded the authorities of all countries what the rules were when it comes to publishing the outcome of elections and stressed how important it was that there was no early publication of the results. They stressed that that was not in line with community legislation.

" in any case, what we need to do is first of course to give an opportunity to the Member State concerned to provide all elements that they consider to be relevant to explain what happened, who did what, who took the decisions, and if there are legal arguments to be raised, we will consider that too. Then we will asses that from a legal point of view and will take measures if measures have to be taken.

"we, as guardian the treaties, have to take care that the current legal framework is observed. What we did by the way because we knew there was this risk, on May 20th we addressed all Member States a message just to recall the obligations under the current EU legal framework.
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Under community rules, Member States aren't obliged to vote on the same day due to differing national practices - but they can only publish the results after polls close across the EU, which will happen at 2000 GMT Sunday.

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