On 17 February 2026, the Medical School of the University of Cyprus welcomed a Delegation of the Committee on Public Health (SANT) of the European Parliament, chaired by Mr. Adam Jarubas.
The visit took place within the framework of an institutional exchange aimed at strengthening dialogue between academic institutions and European policy-makers on key public-health priorities. During the meeting, members of the Delegation were introduced to the Medical School’s educational and research activities, with particular emphasis on areas of strategic importance, including infectious diseases, climate-related health challenges, and cancer prevention.
Within this context, the CY-ESM project was presented by Associate Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology, Dr. George Nikolopoulos, Project Co-Coordinator of CY-ESM from the Medical School. The presentation outlined the project’s overall objectives and rationale, situating it within ongoing efforts to enhance epidemiological surveillance capacity in Cyprus.
CY-ESM is co-financed under the EU4Health programme and aims to establish a modern epidemiological surveillance mechanism for infectious diseases in Cyprus, aligned with European standards. The project represents an important step towards reinforcing national surveillance structures and contributing to coordinated public-health action.
The meeting concluded with an open discussion that brought together faculty members and researchers from the University of Cyprus, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Veterinary Services, and the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence. The exchange highlighted the value of constructive dialogue among academia, national authorities, and European institutions in supporting public health preparedness and cooperation.
The visit underscored the importance of maintaining strong links between research, education, and policy development, particularly in areas that directly affect population health and European health security.