European Shares Struggle For Direction Ahead Of ECB Meet BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks were flat to slightly lower on Thursday as investors geared up for the European Central Bank meeting and awaited the release of U.S. inflation data for clues as to when the Federal Reserve might tighten its dovish monetary policy. The outcome of the governing council meeting of the ECB is due at 7.45 am ET. After the meeting, ECB Chief Christine Lagarde holds the press conference in Frankfurt at 8.30 am ET. The U.S. Labor Department is scheduled to publish its consumer price index data at 8:30 a.m. ET.