WRITTEN QUESTION E-3099/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 October 2002)

Subject: Genocide by AIDS in poor countries as a result of President Bush's insistence on American condoms

Population Action International, an independent research group, has drawn attention to the sharp rise in AIDS victims in poor developing countries and in eastern Europe and concludes that the spread of the disease is in part due to a great shortage of condoms. According to PAI's report, the needs of these countries are estimated to be 8 billion condoms a year, whereas in reality 950 million were distributed in 2000 (as opposed to 970 million in 1990), at a time when there are 14 000 new victims of AIDS every day worldwide.

The Bush Administration in the USA firstly forces USAID, in the context of the Buy American campaign, to buy American condoms at twice the world price and therefore in half the quantity. Secondly, the Administration has suspended its contribution to the UN Population Fund, one of the biggest suppliers of condoms to poor countries worldwide. Thirdly, it has suspended assistance to any organisation involved with family planning and information on abortion.

In what way will the Commission intervene to improve the supply and distribution systems to enable these communities to be provided with condoms at the lowest market price? Will it finance their distribution in the poor countries where the problem is particularly acute? What representations will it make to the US authorities?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2003)

The Commission is very concerned about the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic, and agrees that support for actions against HIV/AIDS must be a high priority in severely affected regions. Lack of access to condoms is an important factor in the failure to curtail the spread of HIV in many developing countries.

The Commission has declared its support for the increased untying of Community aid, and recommends that ongoing efforts concerning untying among all donors should be continued and extended in view of a complete untying based on the principle of full reciprocity. This will help ensure that medicines and other health-related products, including condoms, are available in developing countries at the best possible price. Community aid for medicines and medical products is already untied.

A decision to fund the supply and distribution of condoms in any given country would be made in the context of the Country Support Strategy, in response to a request from national authorities and coordinated with other development partners active in that country. For example, in Zimbabwe the Community is supporting the supply of essential drugs, the United Kingdom Department for International Development the supply of condoms and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) the supply of other reproductive health commodities.

In many developing countries, the Commission's main support for health is via macroeconomic support or through sector support programmes. In these, the recipient country sets its own priorities and uses common procurement procedures. The Commission is engaged in dialogue with national authorities on expenditure priorities and where relevant will highlight the need for condoms. The Commission is aware that providing condoms alone is not sufficient to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Condom provision must be part of a package of measures, including informing, educating and sensitising the population, both women and men.

The Community also supports technology transfer and capacity building for the production of drugs and supplies in developing countries. To this end the Commission has facilitated discussions concerning financial support from the European Investment Bank for the local production of condoms in South Africa.

Specific funds for actions against HIV/AIDS, including provision of condoms, are available from the Global Fund against AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria. The Community, as a member of the Board of the Global Fund, is using its influence to obtain the best possible procurement conditions for developing countries.

The Commission deplores the decision by the United States authorities to suspend its contributions to United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and other organisations which support abortion and abortion counselling (the so-called Mexico City Policy), and it has repeatedly and publicly criticised this decision and expressed concern for the consequences it will have. The Commission has decided to increase funding to those organisations most affected by the United States decision. Finally, the Commission will continue to address this issue and that of tying of United States aid in appropriate fora, such as the Union/United States meetings, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Group of Eight.