Limassol: Cyprus Presidency is ready to actively contribute to a shared European journey toward a reliable, secure European Health Data Space that will strengthen our health systems, Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides said on Thursday on the second day of the EHDS-AI Connect 2026 High-Level Conference, taking place in Limassol.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Charalambides emphasized that the conference signifies a collective European commitment to enhancing the EU Health Union through trust, interoperability, innovation, and cooperation. He stated that Europe is at a critical juncture for its health systems, where policy ambition must merge with technological capability to offer tangible benefits to citizens.
Charalambides highlighted that one of the top priorities for the Cyprus Presidency is promoting the effective implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) as a means to integrate health systems and complete the European Health Union. He stressed that while legislation is crucial, it is merely the starting point.
The Presidency is dedicated to establishing a unified, robust, and secure EU health data ecosystem to improve service delivery and foster innovation, including the responsible adoption of AI-driven solutions. Charalambides outlined five key pillars for the success of this effort: trust, interoperability, innovation through responsible data use, cooperation and shared responsibility, and the development of a citizen-centred European Health Union.
He insisted that citizens should be confident in the protection and responsible use of their health data, while AI systems must remain safe, transparent, and under meaningful human oversight. The European Health Data Space (EHDS) is central to this vision, empowering citizens to control their health data and enabling responsible data use for research and policymaking.
Charalambides noted that EHDS, combined with trustworthy Artificial Intelligence backed by the EU AI Act, offers a significant opportunity to enhance healthcare delivery and outcomes throughout Europe. He called for moving beyond fragmented systems to create a connected digital health ecosystem with common standards and cross-border infrastructures like MyHealth@EU.
He also addressed challenges such as system fragmentation, the need to improve data quality, and the strengthening of digital skills and trust among professionals and citizens. On innovation, Charalambides emphasized that EHDS provides significant opportunities for both primary and secondary use of health data, advocating for early diagnosis, personalized treatments, improved efficiency, and stronger public health responses. He insisted that innovation must be paired with responsibility.
Charalambides stated that implementing the EU's Artificial Intelligence framework is crucial to ensuring AI systems remain transparent, safe, and accountable. He also underscored the importance of collaboration among the European Commission, Member States, healthcare providers, patients, researchers, and industry, emphasizing that all stakeholders have a role in EHDS's success.
He acknowledged the final project meetings of Xt-EHR and TEHDAS2 Joint Actions hosted in Cyprus, recognizing their pivotal role in shaping the European health data agenda. The Republic of Cyprus holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU for a six-month term that began on January 1st, 2026, as part of a Trio Presidency along with Poland and Denmark.