Definition: In this task, a passage will be given and the goal is to identify an event from the passage. An event is defined as a single word representing something that happened, is happening, or may happen. An event can be factual or hypothetical, positive or negative, certain or uncertain. While most events are based on verbs, an event can also be based on a noun (ex. storm, snow, rainfall) or a copula verb (is, was, been, etc.). The event must not be a pronoun or an adjective. For noun events with multiple words, use the last word in the phrase as event.
Input: Passage: The Netherlands reacted furiously early this month when France, Germany, Italy and Spain refused to back an EU motion, calling the affair "a serious reversal for the prospects of an EU foreign policy." Denmark then took the initiative to put forward its own resolution damning Beijing's rights record, which is due to go before a vote in the 53-member commission later Tuesday.

affair