Stella Kyriakides served as Commissioner of Health and Food Safety of the European Union form December 2019 to November 2024. From 2006 to 2019 she served as a member of the Cyprus House of Representatives. In 2017 she was elected the 30th President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the fourth women to hold this position in the history of the Assembly and the first Cypriot. She was Head of the Cyprus delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Chair of the Health and Social Affairs committee, General Rapporteur for the Rights of the Child and Vice President of the European Peoples party. During her term at the Cyprus Parliament, she served as President of the Human Rights committee and Vice President of the Health Committee. She has been a staunch advocate for patient rights, founding the first Breast cancer association in Cyprus, Europa Donna, of which she was President for fifteen years. She was elected President of the European Breast Cancer Coalition Europa Donna, was President of the Patients Advocacy committee of the European Cancer Association, Chair of the Cyprus National cancer plan Committee and served on numerous European scientific boards. She graduated in psychology from the University of Reading with a postgraduate degree from the University of Manchester. She worked in the Cyprus Mental Health services as a psychologist in the areas of Child and Adolescent mental health, Mrs. Kyriakides was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science degree from the University of Reading for her total contribution in the area of health. Mrs. Kyriakides has recently been appointed as Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of the European School of Oncology and Senior lecturer in Cancer Policies.
