Commemorating World AIDS Day - Main contents

The battle against HIV/AIDS is not over yet!

As we commemorate World AIDS Day, I would like to join the different organisations and people all over the world who gather to make a joint pledge: the battle against HIV/AIDS is not over yet!

It’s true that impressive progress has been made in the last decade. As of June 2014, 13.6 million people living with HIV had access to life-saving treatment, 3 million more than in 2012. Improved prevention efforts have led to a reduction of more than a third in the number of new HIV infections (which still stood at 2.1 million in 2013) and AIDS-related deaths (still at 1.5 million in 2013).

However, there are still too many people at risk. Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region, being home to 70% of all people living with HIV worldwide; just three countries - Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda - account for 48%.

The EU supports developing countries in their efforts to improve the health of their citizens - particularly women and children - and HIV/AIDS is a key priority and the object of one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

To achieve these goals, EU development policy aims to strengthen health systems in developing countries so that everyone can benefit from them. It’s equally important to invest in other areas that have an impact on health as well (e.g. nutrition, sanitation, clean water).

To address HIV/AIDS directly, the European Commission is also a founding member of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), which has helped to achieve impressive results in limiting the spread of these three specific pandemics. Thanks to Global Fund support, 6.6 million people living with HIV are currently receiving life-saving anti-retroviral treatment. For the period 2014-2016, the European Commission alone will provide €370 million for the Global Fund to continue fighting this battle.

Today, on this important day, I want to send a clear signal of our commitment to making sure that the EU remains at the forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS and against the discrimination of people living with it.