BERLIN (AP) -- The head of Europe's bailout fund says the region should eventually aim to do without help from the International Monetary Fund.

Klaus Regling's comments in Friday's edition of Germany's daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung add to recent hints from other European policymakers that the bloc should aim to handle future emergencies on its own.

Over the past three years, the European Union's executive Commission, the European Central Bank and IMF have worked together to manage the bailouts of Greece and three others. Tensions have recently risen, notably after the IMF voiced its concerns over the European approach to the Greek rescue.

Regling was quoted as saying the IMF's expertise is still needed "in the short and medium term."