Frankfurt - European Central Bank (ECB) chief Jean Claude Trichet expressed concern Thursday about moves by the Italian government to impose a capital gains tax on the gold reserves held by the nation's central bank.

Speaking at his regular monthly press conference, Trichet said the ECB was "unambiguously negative" the plans by Rome to tax the Bank of Italy's reserves.

Trichet said the Italian Government's legislation "raises serious concerns" adding that it could represent "an infringement of (European Union) law."

As a member of the 16-state eurozone, Italy is represented on the ECB's governing council.(dpa)