Brussels - European Union leaders were Thursday expected to agree on keeping a rule allowing each member state to nominate a member of the European Commission in 2014, in a move designed to convince Ireland to approve the reforming Lisbon Treaty.

"The European Council agrees that provided the Lisbon Treaty enters into force, a decision will be taken, in accordance with the necessary legal procedures, to the effect that the commission shall continue to include one national of each member state," reads a draft statement seen by Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa, due to be discussed by EU leaders at a summit in Brussels.

Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty in a referendum held in June, partly out of concerns that their country would lose the right to nominate a "cabinet member" of the EU's executive.

The Lisbon Treaty, which is designed to streamline decision-making within the 27-member bloc, states that the commission's size should be reduced to two-thirds of its current size of 27 from 2014.

However, the treaty also contains a proviso allowing member states to alter its future size, as long as a unanimous decision is taken by EU leaders.

The draft statement also says that leaders agree not to delay the process of appointing the next commission and its president, due to take place after the European Parliament elections of June 2009.

And it includes a declaration designed to address a number of additional concerns expressed by the Irish in their no vote.

These include guarantees that Ireland's traditional policy of neutrality will be maintained, that the Lisbon Treaty does not impinge on Ireland's right to set tax levels, and that it does not contravene the country's constitution on issues relating to the right to life, education and the family.

Ireland insists that such assurances should be legally binding.

The summit was due to open later on Thursday with a presentation by Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on how his government intends to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, which cannot come into force until it is approved by all 27 member states.

The draft conclusions re-affirm the need for the treaty to come into force "by the end of 2009," meaning Ireland would need to hold a fresh referendum during the next 12 months. (dpa)