Citizens' Dialogue in Nicosia with Commissioner Stella Kyriakides

Access to proper healthcare should not be the privilege of the few, but an irrevocable right of all citizens.

Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

On 19 December 2019, European Commissioner Stella Kyriakides took part in a Citizens’ Dialogue at the Landmark Hotel in Nicosia.

The Dialogue focused on the topic of health and food safety and analysed how Europe is dealing with these two important issues.

The event was very well-attended with approx.120 people including government representatives, stakeholders, academics, researchers, students and members of the public.

The event in Nicosia was part of a series of Citizens' Dialogues that involve the whole European Commission and take place in all EU Member States.

In her opening remarks, Commissioner Kyriakides focused on the following themes:

• The “Europe beats cancer” campaign
• Accessibility to medicines
• Vaccinations
• Resistance to antibiotics
• The European Green Deal and the “From farm to fork” strategy

Particpants were very interested in all issues and there was a very lively and interesting Q&A session. Questions ranged from EU funding and support in the fight against cardio-vascular diseases, prospects for a tax on sugar, what the Commission will do to support the fight against viral hepatitis, food safety – complaints about the lack of controls in Cyprus, especially where pesticides are concerned – and serious concerns about the safety of food products coming from the Non-Government-Controlled Areas in the Republic of Cyprus.

Commissioner Kyriakides closed the Dialogue by saying: “I want us to be able to look back after 5 years and to say that at least we succeeded in meeting the targets we set.”