LONDON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - The European Union should consider addressing barriers that prevent stock exchanges from merging to help deepen the bloc's capital market or risk falling behind, euro zone finance ministers say in a draft statement seen by Reuters.

"We invite the European Commission to assess [and, if relevant, address] obstacles that prevent the consolidation of stock exchanges and of better integrated market infrastructure, to strengthen European centres of expertise (e.g. green bonds issuance)," the draft statement said. (Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by Mark Heinrich)