A paper adopted by the European Commission on 8 September 2004 has warned of a potential HIV/AIDS epidemic in Europe and called for the EU to show strong leadership in tackling the problem (see pdf document below).
In certain 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, whilst the number of newly reported cases in Western Europe has doubled since 1995.
The paper calls for a coordinated and integrated approach to combat the epidemic and outlines immediate actions to be taken by the Commission in the next eighteen months, these include:
Projects targeting member states with specific HIV/AIDS problems.
Identifying and disseminating best practise on preventing HIV/AIDS.
Measures to ensure people in poorer European Countries have access to affordable treatment.
Better coordination of national HIV/AIDS strategies.
Improved Europe Wide Surveillance of HIV/AIDS.
Action to develop new medicines and vaccines.
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 Telicka stated ¨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.¨
The paper is to be debated in Vilnius, Lithuania on 16-17 September (see related EPHA article).
Information about Vilnius AIDS Conference
Documents from the Vilnius conference
Further Information about EU policies and initiatives on HIV/AIDS
