The move could have significant implications for the distribution of top EU jobs, including José Manuel Barroso's re-appointment at the helm of the European Commission.
Abandoning initial plans to extend the Commission's mandate, EU leaders are now applying pressure on Ireland to speed up the ratification process to enable the new EU executive to be appointed in October under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, diplomats told EurActiv.
Every day counts, said the sources, as final ratification will also require the presidential seal of Václav Klaus, the Eurosceptic Czech president, as well as the signature of Polish President Lech Kaczyński, who says his country's constitution does not allow him to sign unless there is full certainty that the EU treaty will enter into force.
In the meantime, the German Constitutional Court is set to decide on the constitutionality of the Lisbon Treaty on 30 June.
A European Parliament resolution, adopted in the final session of the previous assembly on the initiative of former Belgian Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene, states that the nomination of the new college of commissioners should start as soon as the results of the second Irish referendum are known.
Under Lisbon, EU countries will keep their own commissioner until 2014, when a reduction of the college to 15 is envisaged. Should the Nice Treaty continue to apply, the number of commissioners would immediately be reduced to below 27.
Putting pressure on Ireland, the Czech Republic and Poland, Germany recently warned that if Lisbon were not in force, then Berlin would ask for a 12-member Commission, or "maximum 18", thus implying that "problem countries" would not be represented in the college, diplomats said.
The appointment of the commissioners at short notice fits the design of France and Germany, which would have more freedom to influence the distribution of portfolios within the new Commission. Although Paris and Berlin are supporting a second Barroso term at the head of the Commission, they are not expected to officially appoint him at the summit on Friday (EurActiv 12/06/09).
At least in theory, this procrastination seems to address the Parliament's Dehaene resolution, which calls for consultation between the president of the European Council and the president of the European Parliament, as well with the presidents of the political groups, before any decision to nominate the new Commission president. This process is foreseen for the week of 22-29 June.
France and Germany appear to favour a "package deal" on top European jobs, including Commission heavyweights but also the first permanent president of the European Council and the first high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, both of which are foreseen under the Lisbon Treaty.
However, this approach would imply that Barroso's job at the EU executive's helm could also become part of the negotiating package, a well-placed source pointed out.
