Informal EU Health Council: Cyprus Presidency advances European Clinical Excellence Centre initiative

During the informal meeting of EU Health ministers held on 26 February 2026 in Lefkosia, the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU proposed establishing a European Centre of Clinical Excellence for Pharmaceuticals, highlighted the importance of mental health inclusiveness, in particular with regard to young people, and called for greater coordination regarding health data interoperability within the framework of the European Health Data Space.

The meeting centred on three strategic pillars, aimed at strengthening the European Health Union and enhancing the EU’s preparedness, resilience and autonomy in the health sector.

A key outcome was the Cyprus Presidency’s initiative to establish a non-binding European Centre of Clinical Excellence for Pharmaceuticals. The proposed Centre is expected to strengthen trust in clinical assessments, support consistent and high-quality decision-making and enhance the EU role in global pharmaceutical policy, while laying the groundwork for a more cohesive and patient-centred European health system.

Mental health and inclusiveness, particularly among young people, formed the second core pillar of discussions. Ministers underlined the need to embed inclusiveness into national mental health strategies and to strengthen cooperation at EU level to address inequalities and improve outcomes.

In this context, the Cyprus Presidency also recalled the high-level conference on Mental Health and Inclusiveness held in Lefkosia on 27 January 2026. The conference examined ways to support member states through European action in developing community-based, preventive and inclusive mental health services, with particular emphasis on early intervention and strengthening youth resilience.

The third pillar focused on implementing the Regulation on the European Health Data Space, recognised as a cornerstone of the European Health Union. Discussions highlighted the importance of interoperability and the large-scale use of health data to promote innovation, artificial intelligence and evidence-based policymaking, while stressing the need for closer coordination among member states on governance, resources and legal and technical alignment.

Concluding the meeting, Mr Charalambides underlined that autonomy in the health sector lay at the core of the Cyprus Presidency’s priorities, translating into equal access for all citizens to medicines, medical devices and high-quality healthcare services, as a prerequisite for building a resilient European Health Union.

Photos and video

See photos from the event on the Cyprus Presidency's Flickr account.