Barroso accepts nomination of new Cypriot EU Commissioner by Nicos Bellos Brussels, Feb 29 (CNA) - President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso accepted Friday the proposal of the Cypriot government to nominate Androulla Vassiliou as the Cypriot member in the European Commission. Vassiliou will take over the “Health” portofolio succeeding former Cypriot EU Commissioner Markos Kyprianou who resigned to assume new duties as Foreign Minister in the new Cabinet of Sunday’s elected President Demetris Christofias. A press release by the European Commission says that Barroso “has today (Friday) written to the President of the Council and to the President of the European Parliament, transmitting the resignation of Markos Kyprianou as a member of the European Commission, and President Barroso's agreement with the nomination by the Republic of Cyprus of Mrs Androula Vassiliou as a member of the Commission. Mrs. Vassiliou will take over the Health portfolio”. In the letter to the President of the Council, President Barroso has asked the Council to put in place as soon as possible the procedure foreseen by the Treaty for Kyprianou’s replacement. In the letter to the President of the European Parliament, President Barroso informs that following the Council's appointment and in accordance with the Framework Agreement between the European Parliament and the Commission, Mrs Vassiliou will be available to appear before the Parliament, in full compliance with the prerogatives of the institutions. Vassiliou started her career as a lawyer. She was an elected Member of the House of Representatives of Cyprus for two terms (1996-2001 and 2001-2006). She served among others on the European Affairs Committee and on the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Cyprus and the EU. She was an Alternate Representative of the Cyprus Parliament to the Convention for the Future of Europe (2001-2003). She was also Vice President of the European Liberal Democrats and Reform Party (ELDR, 2001-2006) and as such chairperson of the European Liberal Women's Network. Since 2002, she serves as chairperson of the board of trustees of the Cyprus Oncology Centre. She was also President of the Cyprus Federation of Business and Professional Women. She is married to Dr George Vassiliou, former President of the Republic of Cyprus (1988-1993) and Chief Negotiator for Cyprus' accession to the EU. She has three children. In addition to Greek, her mother tongue, she is fluent in English and speaks French, moderately. .