EU parliament approves new health chief

Parliament has formally endorsed the appointment of new Cypriot commissioner Androula Vassiliou.

She replaces Markos Kyprianou, who recently left Brussels to take up the post of foreign minister in the newly elected Cypriot government.

At their mini-plenary in Brussels on Wednesday, MEPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of approving the appointment of the newest member of José Manuel Barroso’s 27-strong executive.

She will be in charge of the dossier on public health, food safety, animal health and welfare, at least between now and the summer of next year when the commission’s mandate ends and European elections are held.

The vote was 446 votes in favour to seven against and 29 abstentions.

Vassiliou was nominated by the Cypriot government and member states have already given their support to her nomination.

She was given the thumbs-up by MEPs when she recently appeared at a committee hearing prior to today’s vote.

Following her endorsement, the new commissioner was due to take part in her first debate in the plenary session on combating cancer in the enlarged EU.

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