The House voted in favour of approving the new Cypriot Commissioner Androula Vassiliou for Public Health, Food Safety, Animal Health and Welfare, with 446 votes in favour 7 against and 29 abstentions. A new Commissioner is needed following the resignation of fellow Cypriot Markos Kyprianou, who left to take up the post of foreign minister in the new Cypriot government.

During an earlier hearing in front of MEPs on 1 April, Ms Vassiliou said: "Health is wealth and I am determined to work hard towards ensuring high standards for our citizens, be they in Romania, Sweden, the UK or Cyprus."

Ms Vassiliou was nominated by the Cypriot government and the Council of the European Union has already given its support to her nomination.
 
Now appointed, Ms Vassiliou will be in office at least until the appointment of a new Commission after the June 2009 European Parliament elections.  The new Commissioner will take part in the debate later on combating cancer in the enlarged European Union.

About Androulla Vassiliou

Androulla Vassiliou studied Law at Middle Temple Inn of Court, London (1961-1964) and International affairs at the London Institute of World Affairs, (1964-1966).

She practiced Law in Cyprus for twenty years (1968-1988). During this period she acted as Legal Advisor to The Standard Chartered Bank and later, to the Bank of Cyprus. She had also been on the Board of many public and private companies. In 1996 she was also elected President of the Cyprus Federation of Business and Professional Women and she was re elected to this position for two terms. During her parliamentary years she served on the following committees:

• Foreign Affairs Committee
• Legal Affairs Committee
• Committee on Education and Culture
• Committee on Environment and the European Affairs Committee.

She was also a Permanent Member of the delegation of the Cyprus Parliament to the Inter Parliamentary Union.