EU Commissioner Kyprianou quits to join Cyprus government

(BRUSSELS) - EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou on Thursday resigned after being named foreign minister by incoming Cypriot President Demetris Christofias.

"Mr Kyprianou resigns to accept the invitation by the president of the Republic of Cyprus to join the Cypriot government as minister of foreign affairs," the EU's executive arm said in a statement.

The resignation will be effective as soon as Cyprus announces a replacement to the EU.

The replacement should be named "in the coming days" said a Cypriot spokesperson to the EU.

According to the Cypriot press that person is likely to be national deputy Androulla Vassiliou.

Kypriaonou submitted his resignation to EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso. His replacement's candidature must be okayed by the European parliament.

Under the bloc's current rules each of the 27 member states is entitled to one commissioner's post.

Whoever that is will only stay in the job for 18 months as Barroso's own tenure will expire in autumn 2009.

The European Union's reforming Lisbon treaty, which member states are attempting to ratify by the end of this year, will change the method by which EU commissionerships are divided up between the countries.

In order to streamline the operations of an ever-expanding EU, the new system, expected to take effect in 2014, would see only two-thirds of EU nations appointing European commissioners.

The Commission, the EU's executive arm could have another vacancy shortly if EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini decides to stand in Italy's general election in April.

The former Italian foreign minister is set to announce his decision on March 10.