91997E3501

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3501/97 by Arthur Newens (PSE) to the Commission (10 November 1997)

Subject: Experts group on family planning and HIV/AIDS

How many times did the Commission Experts Group on family planning and HIV/AIDS meet last year, and how many times so far this year? What is the timetable for meetings in 1998?

What issues were on the agenda in 1997, and what was the outcome of these meetings?

Apart from the Experts Group meetings what other concrete steps are being taken to improve coordination between the European Commission and Member States in the field of family planning and HIV/AIDS?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (12 December 1997)

The expert group on the human immunodefenciency virus and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) met once in 1996 (31 May 1996) and twice in 1997 (21 March 1997 and 25 November 1997).

The points on the agenda of the first 1997 meeting included innovative approaches concerning reproductive health; a study on 'Social marketing'; first phase of a study about free mobility of people living with HIV/AIDS; main conclusions of the external evaluation on AIDS programme with specific focus on the strategy of the regional programme; Council Regulation (EC) No 550/97 of 24 March 1997 ((OJ L 85, 27.3.1997. )) on HIV/AIDS related operations in developing countries; policy related research results on HIV/AIDS as a collaborative effort between United Nations programme on AIDS, the World bank and the AIDS programme; sharing valuable experiences related to integration of reproductive health issues in particular HIV/AIDS and family planning in the context of health and education system; operational coordination; and the legal basis for the HIV/AIDS budget line discussed in Council and Parliament. The meeting decided to create a sub-group on HIV and care and this sub-group met once in Brussels and once in Geneva. Its work continues.

The second 1997 meeting was organised in a special format because the Commission and the Parliament invited the experts of the Member States to attend a meeting on 'The challenge of HIV/AIDS in developing countries'.

Apart from the expert group meetings, coordination efforts are undertaken regularly in a formal and informal way in the country (in the field) as well as internationally. For example the Community has observer status at the UNAIDS management meetings. In the framework of regular meetings with the Southern African development community the Commission participated in the organisation of a regional meeting on HIV where an action programme was identified, and at country level regular meetings with Member States take place on health sector subjects and when necessary concerning HIV, family planning or reproductive health.