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| Final round of marathon EU vote | Final round of marathon EU vote |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Nineteen European Union countries are voting in the final round of the election for the European Parliament. | |
| A number of nations of the 27-member union - including Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic - have already voted. | A number of nations of the 27-member union - including Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic - have already voted. |
| The 736 seats in the European parliament are up for grabs. | The 736 seats in the European parliament are up for grabs. |
| There are fears that voter turnout will reach a record low. No results are supposed to be announced until polls close on Sunday night. | There are fears that voter turnout will reach a record low. No results are supposed to be announced until polls close on Sunday night. |
| Polls in Slovakia - which voted on Saturday - predicted a turnout of 14%, down three percentage points on its vote in 2004, the EU's lowest to date. | Polls in Slovakia - which voted on Saturday - predicted a turnout of 14%, down three percentage points on its vote in 2004, the EU's lowest to date. |
| In Malta, on the other hand, it was expected to top 80%. | In Malta, on the other hand, it was expected to top 80%. |
| Saturday also saw voting in crisis-hit Latvia and in Cyprus, where only the Greek-speaking south of the island was able to vote. | Saturday also saw voting in crisis-hit Latvia and in Cyprus, where only the Greek-speaking south of the island was able to vote. |
| In Italy, which holds a second day of polling on Sunday, the election coincides with a series of scandals around Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's private life. | In Italy, which holds a second day of polling on Sunday, the election coincides with a series of scandals around Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's private life. |
| Treaty test | Treaty test |
| Britain voted on Thursday. Elections there were also held in some areas for local councils. | Britain voted on Thursday. Elections there were also held in some areas for local councils. |
| BBC COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS full results for the UK and the rest of Europe from 2100 BST (2000 GMT) on SundayLive text commentary telling the story as results come inStreaming video of the BBC election night TV programme with David Dimbleby | BBC COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS full results for the UK and the rest of Europe from 2100 BST (2000 GMT) on SundayLive text commentary telling the story as results come inStreaming video of the BBC election night TV programme with David Dimbleby |
| The results of both UK polls are keenly awaited to see how they might affect the national political scene, following weeks of turmoil over MPs' expenses claims. | The results of both UK polls are keenly awaited to see how they might affect the national political scene, following weeks of turmoil over MPs' expenses claims. |
| In Ireland, where the elections were held on Friday, the vote is seen as a key test ahead of a second referendum on the EU's controversial Lisbon Treaty, expected in October. | In Ireland, where the elections were held on Friday, the vote is seen as a key test ahead of a second referendum on the EU's controversial Lisbon Treaty, expected in October. |
| Irish voters rejected the treaty last year. | Irish voters rejected the treaty last year. |
| The European Commission has asked for an explanation from Dutch officials, who broke EU rules by releasing partial results early. | The European Commission has asked for an explanation from Dutch officials, who broke EU rules by releasing partial results early. |
| The results suggest that Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party (PVV) has come second in the polls and will get four of the 25 Dutch seats in the assembly. | The results suggest that Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party (PVV) has come second in the polls and will get four of the 25 Dutch seats in the assembly. |
| Mr Wilders is facing prosecution over anti-Islamic statements. | Mr Wilders is facing prosecution over anti-Islamic statements. |