Cyprus and Ireland could and will cooperate further on issues of agriculture and the environment, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Minister Nicos Kouyialis said recently.

Minister of Energy George Lakkotrypis has participated in a high level EU conference on the Energy Union organized by the current EU presidency, Latvia, and the European Commission.

Cyprus saw its trade deficit widen to almost €3.7 billion in 2014 from €3.2 billion in 2013, on increased imports and declining exports, the statistical service said recently.

President Nicos Anastasiades has expressed his wish to see the implementation of the long-pending National Health Scheme (NHS) during his tenure, noting that the NHS has been the subject of study for several years and the relevant legislation was approved in 2001.

Per capita income in purchasing power parities (PPP) was €23,600 in 2013, the Ministry of Finance said recently in an announcement.

In line with the strategy it announced in 2014, Barclays Bank in Cyprus will be closing international banking accounts held in London, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man, belonging to Cyprus residents and with a balance less than a minimum £100,000.

Home and company deposit and lending rates went up in December 2014 according to relevant Central Bank data, with the businesses rate remaining stable.

A slump in Cyprus’ property market eased slightly in the fourth quarter, a recent industry survey showed, though while prices on much of the island looked to be bottoming out, they fell more rapidly in the capital Nicosia.

The number of real property transactions rose 10% in January 2015 compared to a year ago, the department of lands and surveys said recently.

Building permits fell in January to November 26% in terms of construction area to 0.7 million square metres and 25% in terms of project value to €799.4 million compared to the respective period of 2013, the statistical service said recently.