The German government reacted with surprise and "regret" to Ireland's No vote on the Nice Treaty, but has vowed to continue working towards enlargement of the European Union.
"While we respect the decision of the Irish people, the enlargement process naturally goes forward", a spokesman in Berlin said.
The German Foreign Minister, Mr Joschka Fischer, called on Irish people to vote Yes when he visited Dublin last month, describing the treaty as "a step forward for Europe".
As in all EU countries except Ireland, Germany is not holding a referendum. Instead, the treaty will be ratified by parliament in late autumn, according to government sources.
The French government will not officially react to Ireland's rejection of the treaty until the Taoiseach and the Swedish presidency of the EU have spoken. "We are the 15 - that's the message we want to send to Ireland", a high-ranking civil servant said. "We all take note; we all regretted. We want to find a solution."
Privately, officials said Paris feared making a difficult situation even worse for the Irish Government.
Mr Jacques Delors, the former president of the European Commission, told French radio that the outcome of the referendum meant the Treaty of Nice could not be applied. "But, fortunately, the negotiations for enlargement can continue", he added. "So the candidate countries need not worry. The planned calendar can be respected."