German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer was consulting with Portuguese officials Monday on the European Union's proposed constitution. Both countries' leaders have said the ratification process must continue despite its rejection by French and Dutch voters. Germany has ratified the charter, and Portugal plans to hold a referendum in October. Portugal is mostly in favor of integration, having received billions of euros (dollars) in development aid since joining in 1986. During his one-day visit, Fischer was due to meet with President Jorge Sampaio, Prime Minister Jose Socrates and Foreign Minister Diogo Freitas do Amaral, according to a report of the Associated Press. Ten countries have ratified the EU constitution, most of them in parliamentary votes. The charter must be approved by all 25 EU members to take effect. After the French and Dutch rejections, the document faces votes in other skeptical countries, including Denmark and Britain. Portuguese officials are also keen to enlist Germany's support for their efforts to avoid a significant cut in EU aid in coming years. Fischer was scheduled to visit Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he was to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
