(Adds comment from Juncker, EU's Almunia on protectionism)
BRUSSELS (AFX) - Euro group president Jean-Claude Juncker said the European Central Bank's recent interest rate increase is a sign that the euro zone economy is picking up.
'We feel that growth is consolidating itself, is becoming stronger ... and the world economy is also continuing to grow strongly,' Juncker said.
'The decision of March 2 of the ECB seems to confirm this,' he said.
After chairing the monthly euro group meeting, he said ministers 'had quite a lengthy dicussion on mergers' and would come back to the subject.
Italy claims France engineered a merger between state-controlled Gaz de France and Suez to thwart a rival bid for Suez from Italian energy group Enel SpA.
The European Commission has asked France for details on the deal.
EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia said member states should be completing the establishment of the internal market rather than erecting commercial barriers. afxbrussels@afxnews.com vm COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited