The Dutch government has angered the European Commission by saying it will release results of the European Parliament elections early.
The Netherlands, Britain and Northern Ireland went to the polls today.
The vote takes place in Ireland tomorrow with 22 other EU countries following suit until final polls close on Sunday.
Results were not to be announced until polling across the EU had ended.
However, it is reported the Dutch government is proposing to release provisional results later today, on the basis that the law allows early publication of results provided they are not the final tally.
The commission, which is threatening Holland with legal action, says one country releasing some results early could influence voters elsewhere. It says releasing some details violates an EU-imposed embargo.
Polling today in North and UK
Meanwhile, voting in the European Elections has been taking place in the North and Britain, along with Local Elections.
In the North, seven candidates are standing for three European seats, but two of the three MEPs from the last parliament are not contesting the election this time around.
They are the former SDLP leader, John Hume, and the leader of the DUP, Ian Paisley.
Voters in England and Wales are voting in what is being seen as the biggest test of Prime Minister Tony Blair's political authority since the last British General Election in 2001.
