Christos Stylianides is the EU's new 'Ebola czar'

Just days after U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Ron Klain as the U.S. Ebola response coordinator in October, European Union member states picked Christos Stylianides, the incoming European Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, as the bloc’s new “Ebola czar.” Following his nomination, Stylianides announced Oct. 24 that he would go to West Africa in early November to assess the needs and gaps in the EU’s efforts to combat the disease. This made him the first high-level international official to visit the Ebola-affected region since the outbreak was first detected in March. “Incoming commissioner @Stilianides named EU coordinator for fight against #Ebola by #EUCO,” outgoing European Council President Herman Van Rompuy tweeted Oct. 23 from the EU Summit in Brussels. The Cypriot’s nomination to lead Europe’s charge against Ebola was approved by the heads of government of the 28 EU member states. This followed the Oct. 20 consensus among EU foreign ministers that the position was needed to streamline the bloc’s efforts to contain the disease in West Africa. Several member states, such as Belgium and the Netherlands, have also nominated high officials to head national responses to the epidemic. According to well-placed sources at the summit, Stylianides’ name was put forward by Jean-Claude Juncker, president-elect of the new European Commission, which formally started working on Nov. 1. Earlier in October, the EU’s new Ebola czar made a good impression among members of the European Parliament vetting him. He called the Ebola pandemic “a typhoon in slow motion” that should be addressed as “a mega-natural disaster.” “There is a crucial need for something beyond coordination,” he said. “We are bringing all our services together, and linking up with member states, humanitarian partners and donors. But more needs to be done.” Several nongovernmental organizations and experts have lambasted the fragmentation in the EU’s decision-making process to fight Ebola. Stylianides seems set to take on this challenge. “We have the knowledge and the assets to make a difference. What we need to do now is to act as one,” he said in a statement on Friday. “We must use all the tools at our disposal in a concerted manner: what the EU has to offer and what the member states can bring to the table.” As EU Coordinator, Stylianides will draw on the European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Center, which will act as a clearing house for transport, equipment and medical personnel. “It will bring together all those in Europe — member states and EU institutions – who are working on the fight against Ebola.” New EU funding for research approved The European Commission announced separately Oct. 23 that it would provide 24.4 million euros ($30.4 million) for the pharmaceutical industry to conduct additional research on the virus. “We're in a race against time on Ebola, and we must address both the emergency situation and at the same time have a long-term response,” said outgoing Commission President José Manuel Barroso. The funding is destined for five projects, including a large-scale clinical trial of a potential vaccine, and tests of existing and novel compounds to treat Ebola. The money will be provided via a fast-track procedure in order to start work as soon as possible. The Commission is also working with the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations to develop vaccines, drugs and diagnostics for Ebola and other hemorrhagic diseases within the Innovative Medicines Initiative, Europe’s largest public-private partnership in this sector. The funding for research comes on top of total pledges — including commitments by member states — of over 616 million euros to combat the epidemic in West Africa. The main contributions come from the European Commission (180 million euros), the United Kingdom (157 million euros), Germany (142 million euros), France (36 million euros), the Netherlands (31 million euros), Sweden (26 million euros) and Belgium (22 million euros). As of mid-October pledges had been made by 21 of the 28 EU member states. Read more development aid news online, and subscribe to The Development Newswire to receive top international development headlines from the world’s leading donors, news sources and opinion leaders — emailed to you FREE every business day.