French President Jacques Chirac said on Wednesday the result of the Dutch referendum "highlights strong expectations, questions and concerns over the development of the European project," according to a statement released by his office.

"The president takes note of the consultative referendum today in the Netherlands on the European constitution treaty. Now that 11 countries have spoken, it is up to the other member states of the Union to have their say," the statement said.

"After the French referendum on May 29, this latest negative result in a founder member of the Union, which is so attached to European integration, highlights strong expectations, questions and concerns over the development of the European project," it said.

In the Dutch referendum on Wednesday, the Dutch rejected the European Union (EU) constitution with 63 percent of no vote.

The office released earlier in the day a letter Chirac addressed to his 24 EU counterparts, in which he asked them to well analyze the consequence of the French and Dutch veto to the EU constitution.

"We need to take the time to analyze the consequences for the Union of the votes in France and the Netherlands. It is a reflection that should take place during the European Council (in Brussels) on June 16 and 17," he said.

Source: Xinhua