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Federal Minister Steinmeier on the successful referendum in Ireland
The people of Ireland have approved the Lisbon Treaty in a second vote. In the opinion of Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier the Irish “Yes” represents a major step in the process of treaty reform which is so vital for the EU’s future. He is confident that the Czech Republic and Poland will now also ratify the Treaty as soon as possible.
The Treaty of Lisbon received a clear majority in yesterday’s referendum in Ireland. Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today (3 October) issued the following statement in Berlin on the results of the voting:
”I welcome the successful Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. This is very good news, not only for Ireland but also for Europe. The Irish “Yes” represents a major step in the process of treaty reform so vital for the EU’s future.
The Irish vote sends a strong signal for the still outstanding ratifications in Poland and the Czech Republic. 25 EU member States have now cleared the path to the Treaty. I assume that this signal will be heard in these two countries, and I am confident that both EU partners will now, with a view to their responsibility towards Europe, ratify the Treaty as soon as possible.“