( dpa ) - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, currently visiting China, on Friday called the Irish referendum rejection of the Lisbon Treaty a serious setback".
"Nevertheless, I am convinced that we need this treaty. (It's) a treaty which makes Europe more democratic, more capable of action and more transparent," Steinmeier said, according to a statement issued by his ministry.
"Therefore we are sticking to our goal of getting it put into force. For this, the ratification process must proceed," the German foreign minister said.