A decision about possible German government help for General Motors Corp.'s (GM) German Opel unit will take weeks and the government has made no pre-committments, Economic Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said Friday after talks with officials from GM and Opel.

Speaking to reporters, zu Guttenberg also said there are still a number of outstanding questions that have to be answered and both sides agree "that we are talking about a process that will take weeks."

"It was an open, good constructive talk," he said. "From our point of view, General Motors has understood that there are a number of outstanding questions and they have signaled willingness to answer these questions, and GM's top management is in close contact with the U.S. government over the coming weeks."

GM Europe Chief Executive Carl-Peter Forster, who attended the meeting, told reporters talks were constructive and there won't be a decision in coming days.

Forster also called the talks "open and constructive."

"We are very well aware that we have to deal with a very complex matter and many detailed questions that we will answer in Europe, as far as they concern Europe, but in particularly also in the U.S.," he said. "It's clear to us that this will take some time. We will do everything possible to answer these questions to the satisfaction of the federal government and to bring the (restructuring) plan to a good conclusion."

Representatives at the meeting included GM's Chief Operating Officer Frederick "Fritz" Henderson, GM Europe's Forster, Opel Chief Executive Hans Demant, zu Guttenberg, head of the chancellery Thomas de Maiziere and Deputy Finance Minister Joerg Asmussen.

Zu Guttenberg said that it is important to the German government that it find answers regarding GM parent company's "possible ties with the U.S. government." He said that this would happen during his trip to the U.S. from March 15-18, where he will meet with GM and the U.S. administration.

"The government will examine all proposals that are currently there and those that will come in the coming weeks regarding their plausibility," zu Guttenberg said.

A German government official told Dow Jones Newswires earlier Friday that GM doesn't own the patents of Opel anymore because it has sold the rights off to the U.S. Treasury in the hope of buying them back at a later stage.

Opel's building and plants also belong to GM and no longer to Opel, said the official, who declined to be named.

Government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm told reporters that he couldn't comment on whether GM has sold the patents to the U.S. treasury.

Asked whether media reports saying that the chances for a bailout of Opel have diminished, economics ministry spokesman Steffen Moritz said "I have no knowledge of such an assessment in our house or anywhere else."

Forster Monday presented the company's restructuring plan for Opel to the government and said GM Europe needs EUR3.3 billion in aid across Europe. Thousands of jobs are at risk, with reports saying the restructuring plan foresees 7,600 job cuts instead of the 3,500 that GM Europe has previously mentioned.

Web Sites: www.bmwi.de; www.gm.co

-By Andrea Thomas, Dow Jones Newswires; +49 (0)30 - 2888 410; andrea.thomas@dowjones.com