Fresh AIDS strategy expected, but no extra funds promised

THE European Commission is to adopt a new strategy against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria at its final meeting under Romano Prodi's leadership - though without committing any fresh money to fighting these leading killers.

Sources in the Commission say that Poul Nielson, the outgoing commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, has been adamant that the strategy should be adopted before he leaves office on 31 October. This is despite advice from some officials that it may be more productive to leave the matter for his successor Louis Michel. “The question should not be if this communication will be ready in time,” said one, “but how we keep momentum going.”

While the paper, to be adopted next week (26 October), takes stock of work undertaken since the 2001 EU Programme of Action on the diseases, it does not contain any budgetary recommendations.

According to insiders, there is dissent among Commission departments mandated to fight the diseases, which claim more than 6 million lives per year.

Some in the directorate-general (DG) for development have been pushing for an increase in funding. But they have been at loggerheads with colleagues in the DG for health and consumer protection, who have put more emphasis on the Vilnius declaration on AIDS. Critics of that declaration - issued at a conference in the Lithuanian capital last month - say that it is too thin on specifics.

Marta Monteso Cullell from the Stop AIDS Alliance said she was disappointed to hear that the Commission will not be seeking to have greater resources allocated to the three major diseases at this stage. “It is missing an opportunity here,” she added.

At €358 million, the amount which the EU executive has paid into The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is second only to that given by the US.

Article suggests that the European Commission was to adopt a new strategy against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria at its final meeting under Romano Prodi's Presidency on 26 October 2004, though without committing any fresh money to fighting the diseases.

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