German Chancellor Angela Merkel exchanged views with Mario Draghi, governor of the European Central Bank, as part of her regular informal meetings with leaders of European institutions. Merkel's spokesman declined to discuss whether they had discussed the political situation in Italy or proposals for reforms in the euro zone.
The Italian government was sworn in last Friday to end months of political unrest, but there is still some concern, as the government promised to increase spending and cut taxes in defiance of EU financial rules.
Merkel has ruled out Italy's debt relief, saying the principle of solidarity among euro area nations should not turn it into a debt-sharing union. She said she would approach the new Italian government and work with it publicly.
