Eu News

Governments of the EU may ease the Syrian oil embargo next week in order to allow for purchasers of oil to buy it from the Syrian opposition in order to support them financially in their struggle to oust the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Nicosia - Following negotiations between Cyprus and the Troika, a 20% tax is to be taken from deposits of 100,000 euros and more held in the Bank of Cyprus, and 4% on deposits over 100,000 euros held at other banks. (Video update.)

The European Union has launched a new project aimed at clamping down on drug trafficking and money laundering in West Africa. It will see to the the EU supporting law enforcement agencies in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Cape Verde and Senegal.

In order to qualify for a bailout of 10 billion euro Cypriot citizens had to pay a sizable levy, one-off tax, from their bank deposits.

A policy officer traveling with the European Unions delegation in Syria was killed on Tuesday whilst in his home suburb of Deraya in Damascus.

The foreign policy chief of the European Union has urged France and the United Kingdom to urge caution when it comes to their desire to lift the EU implemented arms embargo on Syria in order to aid the opposition to the Bashar al-Assad regime.

British PM David Cameron has said his country will consider vetoing any extension that may be put on the European Union-implemented arms embargo on Syria.

France and Germany, the two dominant European powers, are currently at odds over the effects lifting the arms embargo on Syria would have on the Mideast region.

Berlin - Europe's largest economy showed signs of recovery as exports and imports were higher than expected. Germany exported 91.9 billion euros ($119.6 billion) worth of goods, up 1.4 per cent from December according to national statistics office Destatis.

London - The British coalition government is often referred to as the "condems", for obvious reasons. The UK Conservatives or Tories are often called the "nasty party" and below are yet more reasons why.