German Chancellor Mr Gerhard Schroeder today said the rejection of the Nice Treaty showed the need to engage citizens more in EU decisions.
Speaking to parliament following last week's EU summit in Gothenburg, Mr Schroeder said that although the Irish referendum result must not hold up EU enlargement it showed ordinary people wanted to be more involved in the European debate.
"Whatever the reasons might have been for the negative result of the referendum, one thing cannot be overlooked - not only in Ireland, but also in other member countries, many people still have more questions than answers about Europe," he said.
Mr Schroeder also said dialogue was pointless with the violent protesters who disrupted the Gothenburg summit.
"Any political argument with these violent people should not be allowed because these desperados have absolutely no political goals. They are isolated among the 25,000 demonstrators who protested peacefully," he said.
"Today we are living in another Europe," he said. "Instead of finding the greatest agreement we can only find the smallest joint compromise. That is too little when we want to keep an enlarged European Union politically governable."
Mr Schroeder said he was hopeful the most advanced candidates could complete talks to join the EU by the end of 2002 and be admitted in 2004. He said Germany wanted neighbouring Poland in the first group of entrants.