In stark contrast to the enthusiasm for the euro shown by governments across the eurozone, a split emerged at the heart of Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right government.

Renato Ruggiero, the Italian foreign minister was quoted in newspaper Corriere della Sera as saying he was "saddened" by his colleagues' hostile comments on the introduction of euro cash. "Reading the high-level interviews in the newspapers that basically criticise the birth of the single European currency has filled me with sadness."

He continued: "The debate on Europe has been one of the most difficult for this government. The differences of opinion aren't marked, they are very marked.

Antonio Martino, Italy's eurosceptic defence minister, on Wednesday spelled out his deep concern. "I hope I'm wrong, but there are big risks that the experience of the euro will end in failure, given the way it was introduced," said Mr Martino in an interview.

Umberto Bossi, firebrand leader of the Northern League and minister for institutional reform, was more blunt. "Personally, I couldn't care less about the euro, and I don't think it means anything to anybody else either," he said. "This was a decision imposed from on high and the public had no choice in the matter."

Giulio Tremonti, finance minister and one of the most powerful figures in government, also distanced himself from euro euphoria. Asked to comment on the arrival of the euro, he said: "I'm slightly reticent to start walking down a path full of. . . primates waving banners, faith healers, shamans, miracle makers and bankers."

He added: "I find this idea that the euro will bring peace and end wars particularly odd. Wars end when consumerism triumphs over romanticism."

The sour comments of the three ministers contrast sharply with the enthusiasm in Italy for the new currency.

However, the comments from Messrs Martino, Bossi and Tremonti are the latest indication of growing hostility among some cabinet members towards further European integration.

Renato Ruggiero, Italy's foreign minister and an apolitical career diplomat, remains the most staunchly pro-European figure in the government. Mr Berlusconi's coalition also contains one pro-European party, the Christian Democrat CCD whose figurehead is Pierferdinando Casini, the president of Italy's lower house of parliament, the chamber of deputies.

However, Mr Martino, one of the few free market liberals on the Italian political stage, has never disguised his objection to fixing the exchange rates of the main European currencies. Mr Bossi and Mr Tremonti, who are politically close, are opposed to what they see as the creation of a European super-state run by unelected technocrats. As Mr Tremonti said this week: "People reject the post-modern and neo-fascist idea that technocracy can be the pursuit of politics by other means."