The size of an internationalbailout for Cyprus is likely to be close to 10 billion euros ($13 billion),euro zone officials with insight into negotiations on thepackage said on Friday.
The bailout for the Mediterranean island, which applied forhelp in June 2012, was initially estimated at up to 17 billioneuros — almost as much Cypriot annual output.
But it is likely to end up much lower thanks to various taxmeasures that Cyprus is likely to impose to boost its revenues.
Officials said earleir this week the bailout was more likelyto end up in the 10 billion to 13 billion euro bracket, but the chairman ofeuro zone finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, told Dutchparliamentarians this week he would like to see the packageclose to 10 billion euros.