BRUSSELS, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers on Monday did not discuss setting up a European debt agency, despite media speculation that some countries want to create such a body to issue debt for the whole currency area.
But some officials said the idea was worth considering.
Spreads on some European government bonds have widened over benchmark German bunds in recent weeks as risk aversion drove investors to seek liquidity in the most liquid European bond market.
Italian and Greek government bond spreads last week hit their widest versus bunds since the adoption of the euro currency in 1999.
That had prompted the media speculation, but officials said euro zone ministers had refrained from debating the notion at their monthly meeting on Monday.
'We did not discuss that,' said Slovenian Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk, calling it an 'abstract idea'.
But he said: 'Anything that helps us to have a more united front is extremely positive. I would never rule it out and it could be very positive, there is no question about that.'
Dutch Finance Minister Wouter Bos said he had not decided whether it would be a good idea.
'Generally speaking, the Dutch debt management agency is probably one of the most efficient in Europe so whether we've something to gain by working toward a European agency ... but we'll look into it seriously.'
(Reporting by Anna Willard, editing by Dale Hudson) Keywords: EU BONDS/ (Reuters Messaging: anna.willard.reuters.com@reuters.net; anna.willard@reuters.com; +33 1 49 49 5339) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
But some officials said the idea was worth considering.
Spreads on some European government bonds have widened over benchmark German bunds in recent weeks as risk aversion drove investors to seek liquidity in the most liquid European bond market.
Italian and Greek government bond spreads last week hit their widest versus bunds since the adoption of the euro currency in 1999.
That had prompted the media speculation, but officials said euro zone ministers had refrained from debating the notion at their monthly meeting on Monday.
'We did not discuss that,' said Slovenian Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk, calling it an 'abstract idea'.
But he said: 'Anything that helps us to have a more united front is extremely positive. I would never rule it out and it could be very positive, there is no question about that.'
Dutch Finance Minister Wouter Bos said he had not decided whether it would be a good idea.
'Generally speaking, the Dutch debt management agency is probably one of the most efficient in Europe so whether we've something to gain by working toward a European agency ... but we'll look into it seriously.'
(Reporting by Anna Willard, editing by Dale Hudson) Keywords: EU BONDS/ (Reuters Messaging: anna.willard.reuters.com@reuters.net; anna.willard@reuters.com; +33 1 49 49 5339) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.