(WASHINGTON) - The United States reiterated support Friday for a united Europe but refused to directly comment on Ireland's rejection of the European Union reform treaty.

"The bottom line is we are not taking positions on the specifics of how the European Union chooses to organize itself -- that is something for the European Union and its members to decide," State Department spokesman Robert McInturff told AFP.

He said the United States had "supported a stronger Europe for a long time as a stronger partner for the US and we continue to support a Europe that is whole, free and at peace."

Highlighting the importance of the US-EU partnership, McInturff said: "There is a whole list of things we work closely on," citing joint efforts in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Balkans.

Irish voters dealt a stunning blow to the European Union's grand reform plans Friday by rejecting a new treaty and plunging the bloc into a new crisis.

The Lisbon Treaty was designed to replace the EU constitution torpedoed by French and Dutch voters three years ago.

Despite the poll rejection the European Commission insisted that the treaty was still "alive" and that EU leaders will discuss the crisis with Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen at a summit next week.

US President George W. Bush is currently on a farewell European tour ahead of his White House exit in January.

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