Date of release : 15-02-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : Informal Meeting of Development Ministers

During a press briefing at the end of a work session devoted to the fight against AIDS of the informal meeting of European Ministers for Development, Jean-Louis Schiltz, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, emphasised that the EU remains committed to making the fight against AIDS one of its priorities.

Three main lines of work were drawn from the discussions with Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS: "The first component is the strengthening of coordination and harmonisation of procedures on the basis of the 'Three Ones' outlined by UNAIDS", the Minister said. "This system presupposes: ONE approved framework of action for AIDS as the basis for coordinating the work of all the partners; ONE national strategy against AIDS, with a broad multi-sectional mandate; ONE approved system of monitoring in each country."

"The second component accepted by the Ministers is the priority to be given to the strengthening of human resources capacities in developing countries. We need to ensure that where AIDS treatment and prevention programmes exist, there are also the necessary human resources and capabilities to implement these programmes."

"Finally, the integrated approach in the fight against AIDS comprises three sections: prevention, treatment and care, and also research efforts", Jean-Louis Schiltz concluded.