BERLIN, April 15 (Reuters) - Germany expects the European Union to make a decision on restructuring help for regional lender WestLB in May and sees "realistic chances" of agreement, the government said in response to a question in parliament.

"Due to constructive talks with the EU Commission so far, the government sees real chances for an agreement," it said.

The government also said a it was theoretically possible that shares in German ship financier HSH Nordbank [HSH.UL] could be expropriated. Berlin pushed through a law earlier this month that gives it powers to forcibly take over institutions whose collapse poses a risk to the financial system.

The law was targeted a stricken lender Hypo Real Estate HRXG.DE.

(Reporting by Gernot Heller)