German envoy Micheale Steiner today reacted to the European Union lifting its ban on Modi saying Germany always said it would take a fresh approach once the Gujarat polls were over. "We respect the democratic resolutions and elections in India. We are in a new phase, this is what India expects of us. It has been part of our approach is to talk directly to Narendra Modi. He has also assured us that a 2002 situation would not happen again," said Steiner.