Duitsland wil compromis over gevoelig Grondwetsstandpunt (en)

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has hinted that he may soften on the controversial question of the number of commissioners, one of several issues blocking progress in the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the Constitution.

On a visit to the Slovakian capital Bratislava - where he was holding talks with his counterpart Mikulas Dzurinda - Mr Schröder said, "we should not be dogmatic about this question", indicating that he might be prepared to compromise.

Mr Schröder's apparent willingless to compromise is very significant.

Germany, along with France and the UK wants a smaller commission of 15 to be enshrined in the Constitution, as was suggested by the Convention, chaired by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

But many of the smaller current EU member states - such as Austria - and the future EU states favour the idea of one member, one commissioner and all with full voting rights.

Both leaders expressed doubts that the issue would be resolved quickly.

Mr Schröder did not think that agreement would be reached before the EU summit in December and Mr Dzurinda said that the matter should be left to the end of the negotiations.