Brussels, 27/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission adopted an action programme to step up the EU's support to the fight against HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis outside its borders. Its communication responds to the Council's request to formalise the political framework defined by the Commission in October 2004 for an intensified fight against these three so-called poverty diseases (EUROPE 8818). The programme proposes a series of cheap, concrete actions with proven efficiency, such as distributing mosquito nets and condoms free of charge and free access to consultation and voluntary screening services for HIV/Aids. The other fields of action are: reinforcing regional networks in order to promote access to safe and affordable medicines, by working together with multilateral partners, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO); -reinforcing the regulatory capacities of the partner countries; -supporting new research work; -organising political dialogue in various countries on the problems of stigmatisation and discrimination and on human rights.
The programme tackles issues of particular concern for vulnerable sections of society, such as orphans and children, stresses the reinforcement of human resources, and encourages clinical research and policies in the field of pharmaceuticals and awarding public contracts. It calls for synergies to be sought with programmes on sexual health and reproductive health, the safety of human beings, and particularly that of children in schools.
The Commission proposes that under the financial perspectives 2007-2013, the EU should make a contribution to the fight against these three deadly diseases which is high enough to help plug the annual funding deficit, set to reach 14.9 billion US dollars by 2007, according to UN estimations. The EU is currently the second-largest contributor to the world fund to fight Aids, malaria and tuberculosis. Its average overall contribution to the fight against these diseases is 293 million EUR a year (over the period 2003-2006).
In a press release, Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development, said: “HIV/Aids, malaria and TB are the main killer-diseases in many countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The Programme for Action which the Commission adopted today is the basis for a continued, coherent and strong European response to this global threat. It is part of the Union's joint response to turn the tide of HIV/Aids, malaria and Tuberculosis and yet another step to reach the Millennium Development Goals”.
The action plan will be examined by the General Affairs Council of 23 May.