European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides will not seek re-election for her current role in the next term, opting instead to return to Cyprus.
Kyriakides informed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides of her decision.
During her tenure, Kyriakides spearheaded a European cancer plan and proposed a comprehensive overhaul of the bloc’s pharmaceutical legislation. However, her term was largely dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to numerous legislative measures aimed at bolstering Europe’s disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness.
According to Politico, Kyriakides’ departure opens the field for other potential candidates, including Malta’s former Health Minister Chris Fearne and Belgium’s Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke. However, both face significant hurdles.
Fearne, initially Malta’s nominee for the next Commission, withdrew his candidacy following fraud charges related to a hospital contract scandal, which he denies. Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela has expressed hope that Fearne might still be nominated if he can clear his name in court within two weeks.
(With information from Politico)
Read more:
