The European Central Bank's decision to raise interest rates by half a point on Thursday reflects the central bank's priority to fight inflation and also signals strong confidence in the solidity of European banks, French ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on Friday.

"French and European banks are very solid," Villeroy, who is also governor of the French central bank, said on BFM business radio.

The European Central Bank (ECB) raised rates by half a point on Thursday, even though some investors had thought the turmoil in financial markets would deter it from delivering another hefty hike. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten)