The European Central Bank is "most likely" to cut interest rates just three times this year as stronger-than-expected economic growth supports inflation, ECB policymaker Yannis Stournaras said in an interview with a Greek media outlet.

The ECB will take account of the Fed’s progress in lowering inflation when it decides the pace of cuts to its key interest rate after a first move in June, its vice president said in an interview.

The European Central Bank should accumulate data before each interest rate cut given the great uncertainty that surrounds the economic outlook, ECB chief economist Philip Lane said on Thursday.

The European Central Bank will probably lower borrowing costs three times this year instead of four, according to Governing Council member Yannis Stournaras.