EN    EN EN 
 
EN    EN  COMMISSION OF THE E UROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 26.10.2009 
SEC(2009) 1403 final 
  
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
Action Plan  
 
Accompanying document to the 
 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CO MMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMI TTEE OF THE REGIONS 
 
Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries, 2009 -2013 
  
{COM(2009) 569 final} 
{SEC(2009) 1404} {SEC(2009) 1405} 
 
EN 2   EN This action plan presents an initial set of act ions arising from a consultation with Commission 
services and external stakeholders. Actions are designed alongside the po litical actions of the 
Commission communication on co mbating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and the 
neighbouring countries, 2009-2013, and should contribute to achievi ng the envisaged targets. 
The action plan will be further develope d and updated in cooperation with relevant 
stakeholders during its implementation. 
ISSUE ACTION PARTNERS 
INVOLVED IN REALISATION
Bold = leading 
entities 
Italics = 
associated entities TIME INDICATOR(S) EXPECTED 
RESULTS 
1. Politics, policies and involvement of civ il society, wider society and stakeholders 
Promote 
HIV/AIDS as public health and social concern, keep the topic on the political agenda Commission 
Member States 
Neighbouring countries 
Civil Society 
International 
organisations 2010-
2013 EU presidencies 
addressing HIV/AIDS as priority issue 
Inclusion of , 
HIV/AIDS cooperation in future agreements with third countries Better public 
awareness on HIV/AIDS 
Political 
support for the implementation of effective measures to combat HIV/AIDS 
 HIV is 
mainstreamed in EU policies 
HIV/AIDS as political issue  
Regular 
HIV/AIDS Think Tank and Civil Society Forum meetings  Commission 
Member States 
and neighbouring countries 
Civil Society 
International 
organisations  2010-
2013 Number of 
meetings  
dissemination 
and implementation of results from meetings  
Actions agreed Know-how 
transfer, Effective cooperation between all key players  
Joint actions 
carried out 
 
EN 3   EN Tackle 
discrimination in relation to HIV status  
  Commission 
Member States 
and neighbouring countries 
Civil Society 2010-
2013 Anti 
discrimination laws in place 
Level of 
discrimination in relation to HIV status 
 Integrated anti-
discrimination policies applied in EU and neighbouring states, prohibition of discrimination in relation to HIV status,  
Better quality 
of life of people living with HIV/AIDS  
Regular meetings of National AIDS Coordinator meetings to share best practices, contribute to policy coherence  National AIDS 
Coordinators 
Commission 
EU Presidencies 
CSF Regular 
meetingsMeetings 
organised Improved 
cooperation and coordination between AIDS coordinators on approaches to HIV/AIDS  
HIV/AIDS policies and strategies Development, 
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of targeted , regional, national and supranational HIV/AIDS policies  Member States 
and neighbouring countries 
ECDC Civil Society 
International 
organisations  2010-
2013 Number of 
explicit HIV/AIDS policies in place, scale and quality of implementation 
Monitoring of 
existing plans 
 Scaling up of 
effective implementation of innovative HIV/AIDS policies leading to a reduction of HIV transmission 
 
Civil society Support of civil 
society through funding and legal support at EU and national levels National 
authorities 
Commission Other 2010-
2013 Engagement of 
NGOs in EU, national and regional coordinating committees and Larger number 
of effective NGOs in all countries across Europe and its 
 
EN 4   EN Involve and 
consult civil society in development and implementation of HIV policies stakeholders 
 policy bodies, 
NGOs input into 
programme coordination and policy making  
 neighbourhood 
Higher degree 
of NGO participation in decision making 
The private sector Intensify the 
cooperation with private sector – business and media 
Work with 
pharmaceutical industry to improve access and availability of treatment across Europe 
  Industry 
National 
authorities 
Commission Civil Society 2011 Coverage of HIV 
in workplace programmes 
Presence of HIV 
issues in media 
Number of ARV 
price rebate agreements  
Treatment 
coverage Successful 
partnership projects 
Solidarity with 
people living with HIV 
Affordable 
male and female condoms  
Affordable and 
fair ARV prices  
Early treatment 
an care, better treatment coverage, improved health status of people living with HIV 
2. Prevention  
Targeted 
and combination prevention Identify 
prevention needs targeting local realities as key in regional/national HIV policies 
Targeted 
prevention to most at risk groups as central focus of national National / 
Regional authorities 
Civil Society 
Commission 
ECDC  2010-
2013 Percentage of 
population informed about transmission modes and prevention measures 
Access to 
comprehensive prevention services and Most at risk 
and general populations , particularly young people better informed about HIV prevention measures 
Improved 
access to prevention 
 
EN 5   EN prevention 
strategies 
Improve 
exchange of best practice, information and education on HIV and HIV prevention 
 commodities 
 Accessibility and 
affordability of condoms services for 
most at risk populations and for young people  
Condoms and 
clean injecting equipment accessible to all who need them including in prisons 
Reduction of 
new HIV infections 
HIV transmission and risk behaviour Strengthening of 
behavioural surveillance to develop measures leading to reduced risk behaviour 
In depth analysis 
of trends and dynamics in sexual and drug use related risk behaviour ECDC, 
EMCDDA 
Academia Civil Society 
Commission Ongoing 
- 2012 Precise, 
geographically distinct disaggregated data and resulting policies Improved 
understanding of behavioural parameters contributing to the epidemics 
Adaptation of 
policies and prevention measures  
Reduction of 
new HIV cases in most at risk populations 
3. Priority regions  
Eastern 
European Member States, ENP countries and the Russian Federation Achieving 
universal access to voluntary testing, treatment and care 
Introduction and 
implementation of effective harm reduction measures for prevention of National 
authorities 
Civil society Commission 
 2010-
2013 ARV coverage 
Coverage of IDU 
specific harm reduction programmes 
Coverage of 
integrated prevention and treatment services in More people 
under treatment , decline of AIDS related deaths 
Reduction of 
HIV infection rate among injecting drug users 
 
EN 6   EN HIV 
Prevention and 
integrated HIV, TB and co-infection treatment, including in prisons and other particular settings prisons 
 Better health 
status of prisoners and their partners Decreased HIV and co-infections incidence in prisons 
ENP countries and the Russian Federation Promote 
cooperation of EU and neighbouring countries on HIV/AIDS 
Invitation and 
involvement of neighbouring countries in HIV related meetings at EU level  Commission 
Member States Neighbouring 
countries 2010-
2013 HIV/AIDS as an 
agenda point in regular dialogue with relevant ENP countries 
HIV/AIDS 
cooperation included in new bilateral agreements with ENP countries Improved 
prevention, treatment, care and support 
 Effective 
implementation of anti-discrimination policies 
Strengthen the surveillance by stepping up cooperation between the ECDC and ENP institutions  ECDC 
Surveillance 
institutions in neighbouring countries  2010-
2013 Increased 
interaction with and involvement of ENP in ECDC programmes Better 
surveillance  
High level conference(s) on HIV and human rights in cooperation with neighbouring countries Commission 
ENP partners Member States Civil society 2012 Conference and 
commitments  Improved 
integrated HIV policies and programmes in Eastern Europe  
Exchange 
programmes between Member States and neighbouring countries for Medical 
associations 
Industry 
Member States  2010-
2013 Number of 
exchange programmes Better trained 
clinical and social staff and NGOs 
 
EN 7   EN training of 
medical and social and NGO staff  Neighbouring 
countries 
Civil Society  
 
4. Priority groups 
Men having sex 
with men Intensify the 
promotion of safer sex behaviour among MSM 
Information on 
HIV prevention integrated in sexual and reproductive health education Civil Society 
Member 
States 
Neighbouring 
countries 
Commission 
ECDC  2010-
2012 HIV incidence 
among MSM 
prevalence rates 
of MSM 
integrated school 
curricula on health Adaptation in 
risk behaviour 
Reduction in 
HIV transmission among MSM  
Less stigma 
and discrimination better knowledge on 
sexual and 
reproductive health 
 Intensify 
implementation of voluntary counselling  and 
testing  
programs (VCT) among MSM and other most at risk groups 
Increase out 
reach work to most at risk groups Civil Society 
Member 
States 
Neighbouring 
countries 
Medical 
associations 
Commission  2010-
2013 Incidence of new 
HIV infections among MSM 
Rate of late 
diagnoses among MSM 
HIV testing rates 
among MSM 
Rate of unknown 
HIV status Decrease of 
late diagnoses, timely start of treatment 
Reduction in 
HIV transmission among MSM  
Injecting drug users Implementation 
of harm reduction measures for prevention of HIV and drug Member 
States 
Neighbouring 
countries 2010-
2013 Coverage of 
syringe exchange and clean needles 
Coverage of 
substitution treatment Decreased 
HIV incidence among drug users 
 
 
EN 8   EN dependency Civil Society 
Commission programmes 
 
Migrants and 
mobile populations Targeted 
prevention measures and access to services and treatment for migrants Migrants and 
ethnic minorities organisations 
National 
authorities 
Commission 
Civil society  2010-
2013 Number of 
programmes and policies developed and implemented Better 
information of migrants on risk prevention, HIV/AIDS and treatment, care and support  
Improved 
access and information on rights and possibilities for migrants 
 Abolish HIV 
associated travel and residence restrictions National 
authorities  Number of 
countries/regions with restrictions Non 
discrimination of migrants and mobile populations with regard to HIV status 
 
5. Improving the knowledge 
Research  Promote 
research for the development of new prevention and treatment solutions for HIV and co-infections Commission 
Member 
States 
Industry Research 
institutions 
Civil Society 2010-
2013 – projects and 
programmes funded Development 
of new preventive approaches and medicines 
 Social and 
behavioural research, socio-economic ECDC 
Academia 2010-
2013 Studies, reports, 
recommendations More adequate 
prevention programmes, in particular 
 
EN 9   EN analysis Commission 
Member 
States 
Civil society for risk 
populations 
 
Medicine Improve 
capacities and knowledge of medical staff with regards to HIV/AIDS; larger dissemination of clinical best practice Medical 
associations 
Member 
States 
Academia 
Industry  Broad 
application of international testing and treatment guidelines Timely 
diagnosis and more effective treatment solutions 
Surveillance Complete 
surveillance of all relevant aspects on HIV/AIDS and associated infections 
(strengthen 
behavioural surveillance)  ECDC 
WHO 
Europe 
Commission 
Member States neighbouring countries 
Civil society  Full picture on 
all aspects of HIV epidemic in Europe Powerful 
epidemiology resulting in comprehensive and evidence based policies 
 
      
6. Monitoring and evaluation  
Commitments 
of Dublin, Vilnius and Bremen declarations Regular 
monitoring on scale and quality of implementation ECDC 
Commission 
 
Civil Society Member 
States and neighbouring countries Every two 
years, depending on results of 2010 study Progress reports Realisation of 
commitments 
Improved 
quality of life of people living and affected by HIV 
Reduced 
incidence 
Implementation of this action Ongoing 
monitoring on Commission 2010- regular updates Better 
cooperation 
 
EN 10   EN plan scale and 
quality of implementation 
 External 
evaluation in 2012 ECDC 
Think Tank CSF 
 
 2013 on action plan 
 Evaluation report 
end 2012 across Europe, 
 More effective 
policies,  
Less new HIV 
infections, better medical, social and legal conditions for people affected by HIV