European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Ardo Hansson said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that purchases of corporate bonds could be more effective than purchases of government bonds.

"I've always thought that channels that work directly through enterprises and banks are the most likely channels to have an impact," he said.

The ECB started on Wednesday to buy corporate bonds under its quantitative easing programme.

Hanson also said that the central bank was prepared for the possible Britain's exit from the European Union (EU).