BERLIN, June 13 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday urged other EU nations to continue the ratification process of EU's Lisbon Treaty after the Irish rejection.

    "We took note of the democratic decision of the Irish people with all due respect, even though we regret it very much," said Merkel and Sarkozy in a joint statement.

    "The heads of state and government of 27 member states have signed the Lisbon Treaty and the ratification process has been completed in 18 member countries. We therefore hope that the other member states will pursue their ratification process," the statement said.

    "We are convinced that the agreed reforms included in the Lisbon Treaty are necessary to make EU more democratic and more efficient and that they will enable Europe to meet the challenges confronting the European citizens," it said.

    Merkel on Friday also told reporters that she is quite sure the EU will find a way to go ahead despite of the uneasy situation after the Irish rejection.

    Calling the Irish vote a "serious setback", German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressed that the EU needs the treaty and therefore the ratification process should continue.

    "Together with EU partners and our Irish friends, we will consider how we shall deal with the current situation," Steinmeier said in a statement.

    Ireland is the only country that holds a public ballot on the EU reform treaty. Its "No" vote is believed to have plunged Europe into a difficult situation.