Berlin angered by German commissioner's absence during coal subsidies decision

At the Brussels meeting, the college of commissioners decided that loss-making mines in the EU must be closed down by autumn 2014.

In the run-up to the decision, Berlin had been expecting EU competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia - whose native Spain also has many jobs dependent on government aid to mines - to suggest that the subsidy regime be extended for one last time until 2023. The expectation was that 2018 would be the final compromise - a year in line with the German government's domestic promises on the matter.

According to the Spiegel Online report, Mr Oettinger's cabinet mailed Berlin the day before to suggest that a narrow majority would see the subsidies extended to the wished-for date.

However, on the day itself the opposite occurred. Mr Almunia was outnumbered by a flank of commissioners saying that they would agree only to a short extension to the subsidies or their immediate end. And Mr Oettinger, to the chancellor's chagrin, was in Washington attending a 'clean energy' conference. A conference to which Germany itself only sent a state secretary rather than a minister.

Berlin is still intending to try and alter the decision. It is hoping that economy ministers in the autumn will agree to a 2016 end date for the subsidies - total aid to the hard coal sector in the EU was €2.9 billion in 2008.

If this is achieved, Mr Oettinger will have a chance to repair his standing in Berlin's eyes by persuading the commission to overturn its 20 July decision in favour of the new date.