Cyprus has nominated Costas Kadis as its next European commissioner, a government spokesperson announced Monday.
“Dr. Kadis’s experience from the various institutional positions he served in the Republic of Cyprus at various times, as well as his academic skills and training, were the key elements in his selection for the important position of a commissioner,” the spokesperson, Konstantinos Letympiotis, said in a written statement.
Kadis most recently served as minister of agriculture, rural development and environment, a position in which he remained until February 2023.
If approved, Kadis will replace Stella Kyriakides, who confirmed last month she won’t be running for a second term. Kyriakides, who has spent the past five years as health commissioner, wished Kadis good luck on social media.
“I wish much success to my friend the proposed commissioner @CostasKadis,” she wrote on X.
Kadis is a biologist focusing on biodiversity and sustainable development and is currently an acting dean at the School of Health Sciences at Frederick University in Cyprus.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides informed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about his decision last week. EU member countries have to make their commissioner picks by Aug. 30, according to a Commission spokesperson. Despite von der Leyen’s demand that countries put forward a man and a woman, several countries, including Ireland, the Czech Republic and now Cyprus, have publicly proposed only a man.
The countries that have yet to officially nominate a commissioner are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal and Romania.
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