Commissioner Kyriakides in Prague to focus on the ongoing humanitarian situation related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

On the 24^th of March, Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, will be in Prague, Czechia, primarily as part of the Commission's commitment to support Ukrainian refugees in the area of health, but also to discuss with the incoming Czech Presidency of the Council the next steps in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing work on the European Health Union and the Farm to Fork Strategy. The Commissioner will visit the Prague refugee Assistant Centre and meet the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Vlastimil Válek as well as Zdeněk Nekula, Minister of Agriculture of Czechia. She will also hold an exchange of views with the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament and of the Senate of the Parliament of Czechia. Ahead of the visit, Commissioner Kyriakides said: “With every passing day, more and more people are forced to leave behind their lives and livelihoods in Ukraine. Thanks to the tremendous spirit of solidarity at EU level, refugees have been welcomed with open arms, and are being given access to the medical treatment and care they need. I look forward to witnessing the support that Czechia is offering Ukrainian refugees and displaced people in the country. This brutal and senseless war has also further highlighted the importance of resilient health systems that can better deal with crisis situations, as well as the need for a shift towards more sustainable food systems that will protect EU food security. I very much look forward to fruitful discussions with the incoming Czech Presidency on these important topics for the European Union.