MNI: ECB Villeroy Sees Broad Consensus About Policy Path, Exit

By Christian Vits

     FRANKFURT (MNI) - The future path of the European Central Bank's monetary

policy currently is less disputed than before, Governing Council member Francois

Villeroy de Galhau told an audience in Frankfurt earlier Wednesday.

     "Past questions about the exit seem to have receded," Villeroy said at a

conference in Frankfurt. "At present there is very little debate among us in the

Council," he added.

     At the same time, there is no reason for complacency. "We are closely

watching trade and foreign exchange risks as well as slow inflation," he noted.

     Villeroy also expressed his belief that the link between unemployment and

therefore wage growth and inflation is still working. Given the robust economic

expansion, euro area countries should use the window of opportunity to make the

currency bloc more resilient, he said.

--MNI Frankfurt Bureau; +49 69 97782671; email: christian.vits@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$E$$$,M$X$$$,MC$$$$,M$$EC$]