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Demonstrators confront police with water cannons as the ECB governing council meets in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014.
European Central Bank head Mario Draghi is expected Thursday to underline the bank's willingness to deploy more economic stimulus measures, a stance that could send the euro skidding even lower.
And a drop in the currency — which helps eurozone exporters and could nudge up worryingly low inflation — might be the most effective stimulus to come out of the ECB's monthly meeting.
Police squared off against more than 3,000 demonstrators in Naples, where the council held its monthly meeting, one of two held annually away from its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.
Riot police used water cannons to break up protesters carrying banners against government austerity policies and unemployment.
(AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta)