Brussels, 26/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Board of Governors of the European Central Bank (ECB) decided on Thursday, without much surprise, to maintain key interest rates unchanged. The ECB intends to stand firm against the external pressures in favour of a fall in interest rates. One of the main reasons for its monetary rigour is the persistence of inflationary trends in the European Union (see EUROPE of 26 April, p.5). The minimum bid rate applied to the main refinancing operations...