France, Germany urge EU treaty process to continue

PARIS (Reuters) - France and Germany issued a joint statement on Friday regretting the Irish vote on the European Union treaty but urging other EU states to press on with ratifying the accord.

"We note the democratic decision of the Irish citizens with all the respect due to it, even though we regret it," a statement in French from the Elysee Palace in Paris said.

It said the Treaty of Lisbon had already been ratified by 18 of the 27 EU member states.

"We hope therefore that the other member states will continue this process of ratification."

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; )