Former first lady to be Cypriot health commissioner

Cyprus has nominated former first lady Androula Vassiliou as the EU’s new health commissioner after the resignation of Markos Kyprianou.

Vassiliou’s appointment must be approved by member states and she must appear before the European parliament “without delay”, according to a framework agreement between parliament and commission.

MEPs will then issue their “position” on her appointment before she takes up her new job as health commissioner.

Vassiliou practiced law for 20 years before her husband, George Vassiliou, was elected president of Cyprus. She later became a member of the Cypriot parliament and vice president of the European liberal democrat and reform party (ELDR).

But Cypriot MEP and member of the country’s Democratic party, Marios Matsakis, told theparliament.com he has concerns that Vassiliou has only limited knowledge of the EU's health portfolio.

“I’m not sure how much experience she has in terms of health – probably not very much,” he said. “I’m not aware that she has been in a government position in the past, so she has no experience in an executive power post as far as I know.

“Nevertheless, I wish her all the best,” he added.

Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, ELDR president, said: “I deeply trust Mrs Vassiliou as a colleague and as a dedicated liberal. I am convinced that she is the ideal person for this important position”.

Kyprianou will return to Cyprus to take up the foreign affairs portfolio under recently elected Cypriot president Demetris Christofias as soon as Vassiliou has been sworn in as commissioner.

He resigned from his position as the EU's health chief last Thursday.

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