Italian carmaker Fiat has confirmed for the first time that it is interested in a takeover of General Motors' (GM) European operations.

Fiat confirmed that it is looking to take control of all of GM's operations in Europe, including the Vauxhall and Opel brands.

Fiat chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo said Opel would be an "ideal partner" and that a takeover was an "extraordinary opportunity", cited by the BBC.

Group CEO Sergio Marchionne will meet the German economy and foreign ministers on Monday to assess the viability of a deal, Fiat said.

Fiat is already in the process of buying Chrysler - the company which is applying for US bankruptcy protection.

GM faces potential bankruptcy in the US and has until 1 June to restructure.

Opel has said it needs EUR 3.3 B to get through the economic crisis, but the German government has encouraged it to find an investor. It has said it does not intend offering Opel a bailout, but that it would offer investors state support.

Montezemolo told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper that a Fiat takeover of Opel would create "a very strong group".

However Canadian car parts maker Magna International has also put forward what the German government has called a "rough concept for a commitment with Opel".

German Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said that any investor would have to present a plan that kept Opel plants open in order to secure government support.

Last week General Motors (GM) said it was to cut 21 000 US jobs in 2009 and phase out its Pontiac brand, as it aims to meet the deadline set by the US government to overhaul its business and show that it is viable.

It must complete its restructuring by then to gain the government loans it needs to avoid bankruptcy protection.

Like US rivals Ford and Chrysler, GM has seen sales fall sharply in its core home market in recent years, a decline that has intensified as the recession has continued.