ECB 'unanimous' about acting to combat low inflation-update2

(ANSA) - Rome, December 11 - The European Central Bank said Thursday that its governing council was "unanimous" about the need to combat low inflation in the eurozone as it is a threat to recovery prospects. "Should it become necessary to further address risks of too prolonged a period of low inflation, the Governing Council remains unanimous in its commitment to using additional unconventional instruments within its mandate," the ECB said in its monthly bulletin. "This would imply altering early next year the size, pace and composition of the measures. "In response to the request of the Governing Council, ECB staff and the relevant Eurosystem committees have stepped up the technical preparations for further measures, which could, if needed, be implemented in a timely manner. "All of the monetary policy measures are geared towards underpinning the firm anchoring of medium to long-term inflation expectations, in line with the Governing Council's aim of achieving inflation rates below, but close to, 2%, and contribute to a return of inflation rates towards that level".