Brussels, 06/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - During its meeting on Thursday in Helsinki (Finland), the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to keep its interest rates unchanged. Since June 2003, the minimum bid rate applied to main refinancing operations remains at 2% and the marginal lending facility (3%) and the deposit facility (1%). With signs of recovery being confirmed and with risks of inflation, the ECB may soon find it opportune to change its rates. During a press conference, Jean-Claude Trichet acknowledged that inflation risked rising above 2% in the next few months. He is particularly worried about the recent hike in oil prices and sees within it a risk for price stability in the Euro zone. He indirectly appealed to OPEC countries to be reasonable by not hiking prices through lower production levels.