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HIV/AIDS - a resurgent epidemic in Europe and its neighbourhood

Summary: September 8, 2004: HIV/AIDS - a resurgent epidemic in Europe and its neighbourhood: Commission calls for political leadership (Brussels)

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A paper adopted by the European Commission today calls for the EU to show political leadership in averting an HIV/AIDS epidemic in Europe and its neighbouring countries. The proportion of newly reported HIV cases has doubled in Western Europe since 1995. In certain of the countries that joined the EU on 1 May and in the EU's eastern neighbours the rates of new infections are the highest in the world. The paper calls for greater efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, measures to ensure people in poorer European countries have access to affordable treatment, better coordination of national HIV/AIDS strategies and action to develop new medicines and vaccines. The Commission's paper is due to be debated by Health ministers and AIDS experts from across the EU and its eastern neighbours at an international conference in Vilnius on 16-17 September (http://www.aids.lt/iac/).

The aim of the Vilnius conference is to build a consensus on Europe-wide actions to combat HIV/AIDS with all involved working together in partnership. It will be opened by the Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas and Commissioner Pavel Telička.

David Byrne, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, said: "The Commission is ready to play its part in fighting the resurgence of HIV/AIDS in Europe. However, the integrated approach we propose will only work if other partners play their role too. Governments in the EU and its neighbouring countries need to give HIV/AIDS the attention it deserves."

Commissioner Pavel Telička said "HIV/AIDS is not just a problem for Africa and the developing world. We have a serious epidemic beginning to resurface right here in parts of Europe. The EU must provide political leadership for the continent-wide action needed to avert this."

A coordinated and integrated approach to fighting HIV/AIDS

The Commission's paper presents an assessment of the renewed HIV/AIDS problem facing the enlarged EU and its neighbours and offers a synthesis of best practices in combating the latest wave of the epidemic. It also outlines the immediate actions being taken by the Commission to address the situation in the next eighteen months. These include:

The underlying principle of the coordinated approach advocated by the Commission is for politicians and public officials across the enlarged European Union and around its borders to give a strong lead in tackling HIV/AIDS. Their common approach must be self confident, open and positive.

Further information

For further information about EU policies and initiatives on HIV/AIDS see:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/com/aids/aids_en.htm

  • Ref: EC04-219EN
  • EU source: European Commission
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 8/9/2004


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