BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Italy's Economy Ministry cannot take a stance on the talks between Intesa SanPaolo (>> Intesa Sanpaolo SpA) and Assicurazioni Generali (>> Assicurazioni Generali SpA) about a possible tie-up because the state owns no shares in either company, a ministry source said on Thursday.

Intesa, Italy's biggest retail bank, said this week that it was considering a possible takeover of Generali in a move that could reshape the country's financial landscape.

Italian newspapers have said Intesa's move is in part aimed at fending off interest in Generali from foreign companies such as France's AXA (>> AXA) and Germany's Allianz. (>> Allianz SE)

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio, writing by Steve Scherer in Rome; Editing by Crispian Balmer)

Stocks treated in this article : AXA, Assicurazioni Generali SpA, Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Allianz SE