Amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on aid for poverty diseases (HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis) in developing countries (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty)
Date: 2003-04-03
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: AIDS, cooperation policy, developing countries, health expenditure, health policy, infectious disease, medical research, poverty

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 3.4.2003
COM(2003) 167 final

2002/0051 (COD)

Amended proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

On aid for poverty diseases (HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis) in developing countries

(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2)
of the EC Treaty)

2002/0051 (COD)

Amended proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

On aid for poverty diseases (HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis) in developing countries

1.

BACKGROUND

Transmission of the Proposal to the Council and the European Parliament
(COM(2002) 109 final - 2002/0051 (COD)) :

Opinion by European Parliament – first reading :

4 March 2002

30 January 2003

2.

OBJECTIVE OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL

This  Proposal  aims  to  replace  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  550/97  (HIV/AIDS-  related
operations in developing countries) and provides for a more comprehensive package targeting
interventions  related  to  development  co-operation,  trade  relations  and  research  for  new
pharmaceutical products, for the three major communicable diseases: HIV/AIDS, malaria and
tuberculosis. The burden of preventable  communicable diseases such as  HIV/AIDS, malaria
and tuberculosis, in developing countries is still very high, resulting in profound human and
economic  costs.  The  European  Community  Programme  for  Action  on  accelerated  action
targeting 
the  context  of  poverty  reduction
(COM(2001) 96 final)  presents  an  ambitious  policy  framework  for  action  which  needs
substantial additional financial resources to achieve its goals.

three  major  communicable  diseases 

in 

The objectives of the activities carried out under this Regulation shall be to:

(cid:1)  Optimise  the  impact  of  existing  interventions,  services  and  commodities  targeted  at  the

major communicable diseases affecting the poorest populations

(cid:1)  Increase affordability of key pharmaceuticals

(cid:1)  Increase the research and development of vaccines, microbicides and innovative treatments

for the major communicable diseases.

Compared to the previous regulation, the financial framework for the implementation of this
Regulation  reflects  the  considerable  increase  needed  to  scale  up  resources  to  reduce  the
burden  of  the  major  communicable  diseases  in  developing  countries.  Community  Policy  on
enhanced  co-operation  within  the  EC,  and  between  EC  and  other  donors  and  international
institutions,  will  be  taken  into  account.  Use  will  be  made  of  the  possibility  to  create  new
innovative partnerships, and to contribute, where appropriate and duly justified, to regional or
global initiatives.

2

3.

COMMISSION  OPINION  ON  THE  AMENDMENTS  ADOPTED  BY  THE
PARLIAMENT

3.1.

Amendments accepted by the Commission

The Commission accepted all the amendments adopted by the Parliament at first reading apart
from the financial framework in view of the fact that in most cases they strengthen and clarify
the text of the regulation without altering the main objectives. In other cases, the amendments
update references made in the Commission proposal and these are welcome.

Concerning the financial framework  of the Regulation, the European Parliament  adopted an
increased  financial  envelope  of  €351  million  for  the  period  2003-2006,  compared  to
€300 million proposed by the Commission. The Commission’s recent Annual Policy Strategy
(APS) decision (COM(2003)  83  final) defined its  2004  priorities  and  contributed  to  prepare
the  programming  of  the  Financial  Perspectives  for  2005-2006.  The  financial  framework
adopted  by  the  European  Parliament  for  this  regulation  can  be  accommodated  within
Heading 4  of  the  Financial  perspectives and,  in  particular,  within  the  increased  envelope
foreseen for ABB Policy Area Development.

The Commission can therefore accept in its entirety Parliament's position at first reading.

3.2.

Amended proposal

Having regard to Article 250 (2), of the EC Treaty, the Commission modifies its proposal as
indicated above.

3