BRUSSELS, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The following are comments by European Union and euro zone finance ministers and other officials in connection with their meetings on Monday and Tuesday in Brussels.

ITALIAN ECONOMY MINISTER TOMMASO PADOA-SCHIOPPA

Asked to comment on Tuesday's rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve:

"The response is certainly the right one, if it was done it was needed."

EU MONETARY AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER JOAQUIN ALMUNIA

On European growth:

"There is more or less consensus moving towards a drop in growth in Europe by a few tenths of a percentage point (in 2008).

"It's not logical to talk about a risk of recession in Europe."