Europe's spirits and cosmetics industries hit back at the European Commission's plan to slap tariffs on U.S.-made goods on Wednesday, saying it put the continent's far larger trade with the United States in those sectors at risk.

Interest in Canada joining the EU has increased amid US tensions, with 44% of Canadians supporting the idea. While the EU acknowledges shared values, Canada's geographic distance and historical precedent present challenges for membership.

Could Canada join the EU? Asked whether Canada was eligible to join, she referred to the admission criteria set out in EU treaties -- but stopped short of expressly saying 'no'.

Syria's foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani is set to attend a donor summit for his country in Brussels on March 17, a European official told Reuters on Wednesday, the first time Syria will be formally represented at the yearly conference.

Sharaa, is expected to attend an international donor summit for his country in Brussels on March 17, a Syrian source and two diplomats familiar with the trip said. It will be his first visit to Europe since he was declared interim president following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December.