Now is the time for analysis, consultations and reflection, Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said on Monday in a response to the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty and added that all ears will be on his Irish counterpart Michael Martin, who will speak to the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg.
"We will listen to Minister Martin today to see what solution the Irish offer for this problem," Rupel, who will chair the meeting, pointed out.
"This is indeed a problem, but I think we still have to believe in the EU and its future. More ratifications will follow in the coming days," he said.
The EU must respect the Irish vote and cannot ignore what has happened, but the spirit of the EU is strong, he added.
In the coming days, the ministers will discuss the possibility for the treaty to take effect before the elections to the European Parliament in June 2009, Rupel said.
"At this moment, it is risky to make any predictions about the future development of things. It is still uncertain whether it will be possible to revive the treaty," he added.
According to Rupel, the Irish rejection has nothing to do with the enlargement process. "The enlargement process was initiated unanimously. These are two separate matters," he pointed out.
Before the referendum, many European leaders had been pointing out that the Lisbon Treaty was crucial for the enlargement process.
"We need the EU and its stability because of the role it plays on the global level," Rupel pointed out. "We need it for energy security and to cope with other challenges the society faces," he said.
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