Commission staff working document -Action Plan Accompanying document to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee 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}
Date: 2009-10-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: AIDS, action programme, anti-discriminatory measure, cooperation policy, disease prevention, health policy, impact study, right to health, third country

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 26.10.2009 
SEC(2009) 1403 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 

Action Plan 

Accompanying document to the 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE 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} 

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This action plan presents an initial set of actions arising from a consultation with Commission 
services and external stakeholders. Actions are designed alongside the political actions of the 
Commission  communication  on  combating  HIV/AIDS  in  the  European  Union  and  the 
neighbouring countries, 2009-2013, and should contribute to achieving the envisaged targets. 
The  action  plan  will  be  further  developed  and  updated  in  cooperation  with  relevant 
stakeholders during its implementation. 

TIME 

INDICATOR(S)  EXPECTED 

RESULTS 

ISSUE 

ACTION 

PARTNERS 
INVOLVED  IN 
REALISATION

Bold  =  leading 
entities 

= 

Italics 
associated 
entities 

1. Politics, policies and involvement of civil society, wider society and stakeholders 

HIV/AIDS 
as 
issue 

political 

Promote 
as 
HIV/AIDS 
health 
public 
social 
and 
concern, 
keep 
the  topic  on  the 
political agenda 

2010-
2013 

Commission 

Member  States 
Neighbouring 
countries 

Civil Society 

International 
organisations 

as 
issue 
, 

EU  presidencies 
addressing 
HIV/AIDS 
priority 
Inclusion  of 
HIV/AIDS 
cooperation 
future 
agreements  with 
third countries 

in 

2010-
2013 

Number 
meetings  

of 

dissemination 
and 
implementation 
of  results  from 
meetings  

Actions agreed 

Regular 
HIV/AIDS 
Think  Tank  and 
Civil 
Society 
Forum meetings  

Commission 

Member  States 
and 
neighbouring 
countries 

Civil Society 

International 
organisations 

2 

EN 

Better 
public 
awareness  on 
HIV/AIDS 

Political 
support  for  the 
implementation 
effective 
of 
measures 
to 
combat 
HIV/AIDS 

is 

HIV 
mainstreamed 
in EU policies 

Know-how 
transfer, 
Effective 
cooperation 
between all key 
players  

actions 

Joint 
carried out 

   EN 

 
 
Tackle 
discrimination 
in 
relation 
HIV status  

to 

Commission 

Member  States 
and 
neighbouring 
countries 

Civil Society 

2010-
2013 

Anti 
discrimination 
laws in place 

of 
Level 
discrimination  in 
relation  to  HIV 
status 

National  AIDS 
Coordinators 

Regular 
meetings

Meetings 
organised 

Commission 

EU Presidencies 

CSF 

Regular 
meetings 
of 
National  AIDS 
Coordinator 
meetings 
share 
practices, 
contribute 
policy 
coherence  

to 
best 

to 

Integrated  anti-
discrimination 
policies 
applied  in  EU 
and 
neighbouring 
states, 
prohibition  of 
discrimination 
in  relation 
HIV status,  

to 

Better  quality 
of 
of 
life 
people 
living 
with 
HIV/AIDS  

Improved 
cooperation 
and 
coordination 
between  AIDS 
coordinators on 
approaches 
to 
HIV/AIDS  

HIV/AIDS 
policies  and 
strategies 

Development, 
implementation, 
monitoring  and 
of 
evaluation 
targeted 
, 
regional, 
national 
supranational 
HIV/AIDS 
policies  

and 

Member  States 
and 
neighbouring 
countries 

2010-
2013 

ECDC 

Civil Society 

International 
organisations 

of 

Number 
explicit 
HIV/AIDS 
policies  in  place, 
scale  and  quality 
of 
implementation 

Monitoring 
existing plans 

of 

Scaling  up  of 
effective 
implementation 
innovative 
of 
HIV/AIDS 
policies 
leading 
reduction 
HIV 
transmission 

to  a 
of 

Civil society  Support  of  civil 
through 
society 
funding 
and 
legal  support  at 
EU  and  national 
levels 

National 
authorities 

2010-
2013 

Commission 

Other 

Engagement  of 
in  EU, 
NGOs 
national 
and 
regional 
coordinating 
committees  and 

Larger  number 
effective 
of 
NGOs 
in  all 
countries 
across  Europe 
its 
and 

EN 

3 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
stakeholders 

policy bodies, 

neighbourhood 

The  private 
sector 

and 
civil 
in 

Involve 
consult 
society 
development 
and 
implementation 
of HIV policies 

Intensify 
the 
cooperation with 
private  sector  – 
business 
and 
media 

with 

Work 
pharmaceutical 
industry 
to 
improve  access 
and  availability 
of 
treatment 
across Europe 

Industry 

2011 

National 
authorities 

Commission 

Civil Society 

NGOs  input  into 
programme 
coordination  and 
policy making  

Higher  degree 
of 
NGO 
participation  in 
decision 
making 

Coverage of HIV 
in 
workplace 
programmes 

Successful 
partnership 
projects 

Presence  of  HIV 
issues in media 

Number  of  ARV 
price 
rebate 
agreements  

Treatment 
coverage 

2. Prevention  

Targeted 
and 
combination 
prevention 

/ 

2010-
2013 

National 
Regional 
authorities 

Civil Society 

Commission 

ECDC 

Identify 
prevention 
needs 
targeting 
local  realities  as 
key 
in 
regional/national 
HIV policies 

Targeted 
to 
prevention 
most 
risk 
at 
groups as central 
focus of national 

of 

about 

and 

Percentage 
population 
informed 
transmission 
modes 
prevention 
measures 

to 

Access 
comprehensive 
prevention 
services 

and 

EN 

4 

   EN 

Solidarity  with 
people 
living 
with HIV 

Affordable 
male 
female 
condoms  

and 

Affordable  and 
ARV 
fair 
prices  

Early treatment 
an  care,  better 
treatment 
coverage, 
improved 
health  status  of 
people 
living 
with HIV 

risk 
general 
, 

Most  at 
and 
populations 
particularly 
young  people 
better informed 
about 
HIV 
prevention 
measures 

Improved 
access 
prevention 

to 

 
 
 
 
 
 
prevention 
strategies 

Improve 
exchange of best 
practice, 
information  and 
education 
on 
HIV  and  HIV 
prevention 

HIV 
transmission 
and 
risk 
behaviour 

to 

Strengthening of 
behavioural 
surveillance 
develop 
measures 
leading 
reduced 
behaviour 

to 
risk 

In depth analysis 
trends  and 
of 
dynamics 
in 
sexual  and  drug 
use  related  risk 
behaviour 

3. Priority regions 

Eastern 
European 
Member 
States,  ENP 
countries 
and 
Russian 
Federation 

the 

Achieving 
universal  access 
to 
voluntary 
testing, 
treatment 
care 

and 

Introduction  and 
implementation 
effective 
of 
reduction 
harm 
for 
measures 
of 
prevention 

commodities 

Accessibility  and 
affordability  of 
condoms 

for 
risk 

services 
most  at 
populations 
and  for  young 
people  

Condoms  and 
clean  injecting 
equipment 
accessible 
to 
all  who  need 
them  including 
in prisons 

Reduction 
new 
infections 

of 
HIV 

Ongoing 
- 2012 

Precise, 
geographically 
distinct 
disaggregated 
and 
data 
resulting policies 

Improved 
understanding 
of  behavioural 
parameters 
contributing  to 
the epidemics 

Adaptation  of 
and 
policies 
prevention 
measures  

of 
Reduction 
new  HIV  cases 
in  most  at  risk 
populations 

ECDC, 
EMCDDA 

Academia 

Civil Society 

Commission 

National 
authorities 

2010-
2013 

Civil society 

Commission 

ARV coverage 

Coverage of IDU 
harm 
specific 
reduction 
programmes 

More 
under 
treatment 
decline 
AIDS 
deaths 

people 

, 
of 
related 

Coverage 
integrated 
prevention 
treatment 
services 

of 

and 

in 

of 
Reduction 
infection 
HIV 
rate 
among 
injecting  drug 
users 

EN 

5 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
ENP 
countries 
and 
Russian 
Federation 

the 

HIV 

Prevention  and 
integrated  HIV, 
co-
and 
TB 
infection 
treatment, 
in 
including 
and 
prisons 
other  particular 
settings 

Promote 
cooperation  of 
EU 
and 
neighbouring 
countries 
HIV/AIDS 

on 

and 
Invitation 
involvement  of 
neighbouring 
countries in HIV 
related  meetings 
at EU level  

the 
Strengthen 
surveillance  by 
stepping 
up 
cooperation 
between 
the 
ECDC  and  ENP 
institutions  

High 
level 
conference(s) on 
HIV  and  human 
rights 
in 
cooperation with 
neighbouring 
countries 

Exchange 
programmes 
between 
Member  States 
and 
neighbouring 
countries 

for 

prisons 

HIV/AIDS  as  an 
agenda  point  in 
regular  dialogue 
relevant 
with 
ENP countries 

HIV/AIDS 
cooperation 
included  in  new 
bilateral 
agreements  with 
ENP countries 

Increased 
interaction  with 
and  involvement 
of ENP in ECDC 
programmes 

Commission 

Member States 

2010-
2013 

Neighbouring 
countries 

2010-
2013 

ECDC 

Surveillance 
institutions 
neighbouring 
countries 

in 

Commission 

2012 

Conference  and 
commitments  

health 
Better 
of 
status 
prisoners 
and 
their  partners 
Decreased HIV 
and 
co-
infections 
incidence 
prisons 

in 

Improved 
prevention, 
treatment,  care 
and support 

Effective 
implementation 
of 
anti-
discrimination 
policies 

Better 
surveillance  

Improved 
integrated  HIV 
and 
policies 
programmes  in 
Eastern Europe 

ENP partners 

Member States 

Civil society 

Medical 
associations 

2010-
2013 

Industry 

Member States  

of 

Number 
exchange 
programmes 

trained 
Better 
and 
clinical 
social  staff  and 
NGOs 

EN 

6 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
training 
of 
and 
medical 
social  and  NGO 
staff  

Neighbouring 
countries 

Civil Society 

4. Priority groups 

Men having sex 
with men 

Injecting  drug 
users 

the 
of 
sex 

Intensify 
promotion 
safer 
behaviour 
among MSM 

Information  on 
HIV  prevention 
in 
integrated 
and 
sexual 
reproductive 
health education 

Intensify 
implementation 
of 
voluntary 
counselling  and 
testing 
programs 
among 
(VCT) 
MSM  and  other 
most 
risk 
at 
groups 

Increase 
out 
reach  work  to 
most 
risk 
at 
groups 

Implementation 
harm 
of 
reduction 
for 
measures 
of 
prevention 
HIV  and  drug 

Civil Society 

2010-
2012 

incidence 

HIV 
among MSM 

Adaptation 
in 
risk behaviour 

Member 
States 

Neighbouring 
countries 

Commission 

ECDC  

prevalence  rates 
of MSM 

integrated  school 
curricula 
on 
health 

Civil Society 

2010-
2013 

Member 
States 

Neighbouring 
countries 

Medical 
associations 

Commission 

Incidence  of  new 
HIV 
infections 
among MSM 

Rate 
late 
of 
diagnoses  among 
MSM 

HIV  testing  rates 
among MSM 

Rate  of  unknown 
HIV status 

in 

Reduction 
HIV 
transmission 
among MSM  

stigma 

Less 
and 
discrimination 
better 
knowledge  on 
and 
sexual 
reproductive 
health 

Decrease 
of 
late  diagnoses, 
timely  start  of 
treatment 

in 

Reduction 
HIV 
transmission 
among MSM  

Member 
States 

2010-
2013 

Neighbouring 
countries 

Decreased 
HIV  incidence 
among 
drug 
users 

Coverage 
of 
syringe  exchange 
and clean needles 

of 

Coverage 
substitution 
treatment 

EN 

7 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
dependency 

Civil Society 

programmes 

and 

Migrants 
mobile 
populations 

Targeted 
prevention 
measures 
access 
services 
treatment 
migrants 

and 
to 
and 
for 

Commission 

2010-
2013 

Migrants and 
ethnic 
minorities 
organisations 

National 
authorities 

Commission 

Civil society 

of 
Number 
programmes  and 
policies 
developed 
implemented 

and 

National 
authorities 

Abolish  HIV 
associated 
travel 
residence 
restrictions 

and 

Number 
of 
countries/regions 
with restrictions 

Better 
information  of 
migrants 
on 
risk 
prevention, 
HIV/AIDS 
and  treatment, 
and 
care 
support  

Improved 
and 
access 
information on 
rights 
and 
possibilities 
for migrants 

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 
treatment 
and 
solutions 
for 
HIV  and  co-
infections 

Commission 

2010-
2013 

Member 
States 

Industry 

Research 
institutions 

Civil Society 

–  projects  and 
programmes 
funded 

new 

Development 
of 
preventive 
approaches 
and medicines 

and 

Social 
behavioural 
research,  socio-
economic 

ECDC 

Academia 

2010-
2013 

Studies,  reports, 
recommendations 

EN 

8 

More adequate 
prevention 
programmes, 
in 

particular 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
analysis 

Commission 

for 
populations 

risk 

Medicine 

Surveillance 

Member 
States 

Civil society 

Medical 
associations 

Member 
States 

Academia 

Industry 

ECDC 

WHO 
Europe 
Commission 
Member 
States 
neighbouring 
countries 

Civil society 

Improve 
and 
capacities 
of 
knowledge 
medical 
staff 
with  regards  to 
HIV/AIDS; 
larger 
dissemination 
of  clinical  best 
practice 

Complete 
surveillance  of 
relevant 
all 
aspects 
on 
HIV/AIDS  and 
associated 
infections 

(strengthen 
behavioural 
surveillance)  

Broad 
application 
international 
testing 
treatment 
guidelines 

of 

and 

Timely 
diagnosis  and 
more  effective 
treatment 
solutions 

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 
Vilnius 
Bremen 
declarations 

Dublin, 
and 

Regular 
monitoring  on 
and 
scale 
quality 
of 
implementation 

ECDC 

Commission 

Civil Society 

Member 
States 
neighbouring 
countries 

and 

Every two 
years, 
depending 
on  results 
of 
2010 
study 

Progress reports  Realisation  of 

commitments 

Improved 
quality  of  life 
people 
of 
and 
living 
affected 
by 
HIV 

Reduced 
incidence 

Implementation 
of  this  action 

Ongoing 
monitoring  on 

Commission 

2010-

regular  updates  Better 

EN 

9 

cooperation 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
plan 

scale 
and 
of 
quality 
implementation 

External 
evaluation 
2012 

in 

ECDC 

2013 

on action plan 

across Europe, 

Think Tank 

CSF 

Evaluation  report 
end 2012 

More  effective 
policies,  

Less  new  HIV 
infections, 
better  medical, 
social 
and 
legal 
conditions  for 
people 
affected 
HIV  

by 

EN 

10 

   EN