THE GERMAN government is "sympathetic" to the idea of retaining one EU commissioner per member state if it would help the Government in any second Lisbon Treaty referendum, according to officials in Berlin.
Chancellor Angela Merkel told Taoiseach Brian Cowen in Berlin last night that she was keeping an "open mind" on how best to resolve the Lisbon impasse.
"We trust the Irish Government is doing everything it can to move forward the European process," said Dr Merkel. She assured Mr Cowen that there was a "mutual understanding of each other's expectations and wishes" and that "Germany is prepared to work very closely with Ireland".
Mr Cowen explained to Dr Merkel the "considerable challenge" of finding a way forward that is acceptable to EU colleagues while addressing concerns that led to Ireland's No vote.
"I am conscious of the chancellor's excellent track record in resolving difficulties of this nature," he said, a nod to the Lisbon breakthrough during the 2007 German EU presidency.
Berlin officials say they see no reason to allow the Lisbon Treaty proposal to slim down the European Commission to stand in the way of full ratification of the document, and that they are predisposed to a deal.
German officials are open to whatever opt-outs and clarifications Ireland wishes as long as they do not require the Lisbon package to be re-opened and require other states to re-ratify.
Within Dr Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), sources say that there is no "red line" over retaining a 27-member European Commission. If anything, they are open to "the possibilities that national influence present".
The German leader has made it clear that her priority is ratification of Lisbon next year, but without applying pressure on Ireland - or even appearing to apply pressure - before the Government presents its solution.
At the same time, Berlin makes clear that, without the new treaty, it will not agree to any further EU enlargement, regardless of whether it is possible with the current Nice Treaty rules.
Already, the idea of allowing Ireland retain its commissioner has earned the nickname the "extra wurst solution" in Berlin.
"Ireland will get its extra wurst, but it will have to work for it," said Jan Techau, director of the Alfred Oppenheimer Centre for European Policy Studies.
To circumvent Lisbon Treaty commissioner cuts, he said, Ireland could be granted a provisional guarantee to a commissioner that could be applied after the treaty comes into force.
"Some sort of special arrangement will have to be arranged for Ireland at the next possible opportunity," he said.