EU to present coordinated approach to confront the threat of an HIV-AIDS epidemic in Europe

Health ministers and experts from across Europe are to meet in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 16-17 September to debate a package of EU actions to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS in the EU and its eastern neighbours.

A report published by the United Nations' AIDS agency (UNAIDS) this week highlighted the spread of the disease in parts of the EU and neighbouring countries, putting the number of people now infected at 1.3 million compared with just 160,000 in 1995. A number of the new Member States, who joined on 1 May this year, are identified by UNAIDS as being amongst the worst affected countries.

Meanwhile, the EU's own analysis shows cause for concern about growing numbers of HIV/AIDS infections in the 15-25 age group across the whole of the EU. In early September European Commissioners David Byrne and Pavel Telička will outline the Commission's input to address this situation.

The aim of the Vilnius conference, which is being jointly organised by the Lithuanian government and the Commission, is to refocus political attention and to build a consensus in favour of Europe-wide actions with all involved working together in partnership. The conference will be opened by the Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas and Commissioner Pavel Telička.

Senior representatives from the UN, the WHO and from the worlds of science and academia will participate in the conference alongside health ministers. The Vilnius Conference follows up on the Ministerial Conference on HIV/AIDS organised in Dublin on 23-24 February this year during the Irish Presidency of the EU.

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