New EU health commissioner readies plan

Cyprus’ new Commissioner to the European Commission Stella Kyriakides has outlined the goals and priorities for the Health and Food Safety portfolio at a meeting held on Wednesday with Cypriot journalists covering the proceedings of the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Kyriakides, who assumes duties on 1 December, described as important the outcome of Wednesday's vote in the European Parliament, which approved by majority vote the new Commission for the next five years, saying that both the President and the members of the Commission have come out stronger from the voting.

She also described her portfolio as "very important" which brings her closer to the European citizens in many aspects of their daily life.

Health issues, she said, are among the priorities of European citizens which also include animal welfare and plant - health.

Cyprus’ Commissioner noted that one of the major priorities of the new President of the Commission is the European Cancer Strategy, adding that the first presentation of this strategy will take place in February 2020. She also referred to the new "From Farm to Fork" strategy, the access to medicines and the overuse of antibiotics.

The European citizen is expecting to see concrete steps to be taken, she said, adding that things cannot change from one day to the next. She stressed said it is important to take steady steps "to achieve our goals".

Kyriakides said that she is assuming her duties feeling huge responsibility due to the importance of her portfolio noting that tackling cancer and food safety are among her priorities.

My work over the next 5 years will be guided by my determination to improve & protect the well-being of our #citizens. #Health & #FoodSafety concern us all. I will work with Member States and @Europarl_EN to improve healthsystems & ensure affordable nutritious food #vdLCommission pic.twitter.com/IHNBOy9fBX

— Stella Kyriakides (@SKyriakidesEU) November 27, 2019