A change in the ECB's policy message would likely be taken by investors as a sign that rate-setters are getting ready to wind down their 2.55 trillion euros bond-buying programme, the key plank of their stimulus policy for the past three years.
The euro rose after the minutes, hitting a six-day high against the pound
Euro zone bond yields rose, trimming earlier rises. Germany's 10-year Bund yield rose just over 1 basis point to 0.49 percent
Europe's pan-European STOXX 600 <.STOXX> equity index gave up gains after the release of the minutes, and was last trading 0.1 percent lower.
(Reporting by the London Markets Team; Editing by Fanny Potkin)