While everyone involved seems to agree that the European Space Agency will extend its commitment to ISS at least to 2020, getting that decision nailed down is taking some time. It didn't happen at the December meeting of ESA's ruling council, for example, which was focused on dealing with the financial woes of Arianespace. Most believe the ISS commitment will come at the meeting in March.
The success of the Falcon 9/Dragon flight seems to have added another factor to the European's calculations. The entry of private companies like SpaceX into the ongoing ISS program, providing cargo flights and eventually manned flights, is certainly a factor to be taken into account when determining ESA's funding level over the next decade, but that entry has been clearly in the mix for a while. SpaceX's recent success should not have stunned any member state of ESA.
Likely, it didn't. Reaching a decision that involves so many nations can be complex and difficult. Various interests have to be properly aligned. Such diplomatic politics takes time. A final commitment in March would be just fine.
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