In 2007, more than 50 000 new cases of HIV/AIDS were reported in the EU and neighbouring countries, and currently some 2 million Europeans are living with HIV. It is against this background that the European Commission adopted on 26 October 2009 a policy document which sets out priorities to tackle HIV/AIDS across Europe in the period 2009-2013.

The Commission strategy aims to contribute: 

• To reduce new HIV infections across all European countries by 2013; 
• To improve access to prevention, treatment, care and support; and
• To improve the quality of life of people living with, affected by or most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries.

Specifically, the Commission is putting forward the following proposals: 

• To scale up the implementation of prevention strategies that target local realities and needs; 
• To work towards ensuring universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support; 
• To improve surveillance in EU and neighbouring countries and share quality data to be used as a basis for effective policies; 
• To support an effective response to HIV/AIDS in priority regions (new EU members in Eastern Europe and the neighbouring countries most affected); 
• To work with member countries to develop better ways to reach the populations most at risk of HIV infection.

Civil society involvement

The Commission's policy paper recognises that the civil society is a key actor in combating HIV/AIDS at all levels and is instrumental in keeping HIV/AIDS on the political agenda. It therefore wants to ensure that civil society stays involved in HIV/AIDS related policy development and implementation and remains a front line partner in a coordinated response, sharing responsibility for meeting commitments and proposes the following actions for this purpose: 

• To support the involvement of civil society organisations, including those representing people living with HIV/AIDS and affected communities, in planning, implementing and evaluating the response to HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries; 
• To maintain the HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum as the principal interface to advise the Commission and the HIV/AIDS Think Tank. In 2005, the Commission set up the HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum (CSF).

Next steps
The Commission's proposal "Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries", 2009 -2013 is likely to come into effect in autumn 2009.

It is complemented by an operational action plan to be further developed in cooperation with the HIV/AIDS Think Tank, the Civil Society Forum and external stakeholders along the lines of the political actions presented here.

EU actions will be funded through the 2008-13 Health Programme and eligible countries should make use of structural funds. Funding may also be available through the 7th Research Framework Programme.

An independent evaluation of the overall EU intervention to combat HIV/AIDS in Europe will be carried out by 2012 to assess the impact and relevance of the actions. With the support of the ECDC, the HIV/AIDS Think Tank, the CSF and selected international organisations, the Commission will identify suitable indicators to monitor and assess the implementation of this Communication and the action plan. The Commission and its stakeholders will identify organisations responsible for the implementation of attributed actions during the implementation process.

Further information 
The Commission's Communication "Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries, 2009 -2013" (COM(2009) 569/4) is available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_threats/com/aids/docs/com2009_en.pdf (61kb)

For further details on the Commission's proposals as well as background information and materials, please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_threats/com/aids/com_aids_en.htm