The European Central Bank (ECB) executive board member Benoit Coeure told German newspaper Die Welt that the central bank has discussed about whether to implement a sovereign bond-buying programme last week. He noted that the ECB could take a decision on its policy meeting on January 22.

Coeure pointed out that Greece's parliament election on January 25 would not influence the ECB's monetary policy. He added that Greece had "a large interest to remain a member of the euro and to push on with the reforms".

Coeure said that "falling oil price strengthens the risk in the current environment that people lose trust in our inflation goal".