The inflation outlook requires the European Central Bank to continue with its strong policy response, and interest rates will not only need to go to restrictive territory but stay there longer, Slovak policymaker Peter Kazimir said on Monday.

"The resolve to continue resolutely will have to be maintained for at least the whole of the next six months," Kazimir said in an emailed statement. (Reporting by Robert Muller and Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Alison Williams)