Skip to main content
European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR)
News article16 March 2022Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations

Commissioner Kyriakides in Athens to focus on the ongoing humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and COVID-19

20141218-eu-flag_10.jpg

Tomorrow, 17 March, Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, will be in Athens, Greece, where she will meet with the Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris. Discussions will focus on the ongoing humanitarian situation in Ukraine, including support to the bordering Member States and preparing health systems for the reception of persons in need of medical care. They will also discuss the roll-out of vaccinations in Greece and the overall management of the pandemic, as well as the way forward on the proposals under the European Health Union. The Commissioner will also open the second ‘Economist Cancer Summit Greece' and present Europe's Beating Cancer Plan. Ahead of the visit, Commissioner Kyriakides said: “We continue to see millions of people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Many of these refugees are patients, vulnerable populations, women and children, as well as cancer patients, both adults and children. From the very start, European solidarity has shone through. We have already secured the first 10,000 beds to transfer patients in need of medical care, these include beds for adult and paediatric cancer patients and the first patients have already made use of this European solidarity mechanism. I look forward to discuss the health situation in Greece, how we can help improve the health and wellbeing of refugees across the EU, and how we must continue to monitor COVID-19, as well continue to promote our European Health Union, including our Europe's Beating Cancer Plan.” The visit is part of the Commission's ongoing efforts and Commissioner Kyriakides's commitment to support the roll-out of Member States' national COVID-19 vaccination campaigns and address the impact of COVID-19 on other diseases.

Details