FRANKFURT (MNI) - European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said in an interview done Monday that he expects the discussions between the European Commisssion, the IMF and the Greek government over a rescue package to be completed quickly.

He also said, according to a video recording of the interview, that he is "very confident" that a conclusion could be reached.

"I expect this discussion to go fast," Trichet said.

"We have a number of experts [who] are there," Trichet said.

FRANKFURT (MNI) - The Eurozone has come to the end of its banking crisis, but further challenges remain, including improving economic surveillance and strengthening the Growth and Stability Pact, European Central Bank Vice-President Lucas Papademos said before Parliament.

FRANKFURT (MNI) - The European Central Bank on Tuesday allotted E75.6235 billion in its main seven-day refinancing operation at a fixed rate of 1.0%.

The ECB satisfied all of the 66 bids received.

Today's operation resulted in a net addition of E5.3955 billion after the ECB allotted E70.228 billion in its 7-day MRO last week.

FRANKFURT (MNI) - The Eurozone has come to the end of its banking crisis, but further challenges remain, including improving economic surveillance and strengthening the Growth and Stability Pact, European Central Bank Vice-President Lucas Papademos said before Parliament.

FRANKFURT (MNI) - The following is the second part of a verbatim text of ECB Vice President Lucas Papademos's opening statement to the European Parliament's committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs:

FRANKFURT (MNI) - The following is the first part of verbatim text of ECB Vice President Lucas Papademos's opening statement to the European Parliament's committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs:

Dear Madam Chair,

Dear honourable Members of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs,

FRANKFURT (MNI) - The European Central Bank said Tuesday that a total of E48.912 billion Eurosystem covered bond purchases had settled as of April 26.

As of April 25, settled acquisitions had totaled E48.546 billion, the ECB said Monday. The ECB plans to buy a total of around E60 billion covered bonds by the end of June 2010 at the latest.

The program is aimed at revitalizing a market segment that has been exceptionally hard hit by the financial turmoil.

BRUSSELS (MNI) - Poor communication about the scope of the Greek government's efforts to reduce the country's public budget deficit and the resulting market volatility provides a textbook case of what not to do in such situations, European Central Bank Governing Council member Yves Mersch said in an interview published on Tuesday.