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EU-U.S. Statement on Accelerated Action in HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in Africa EU-U.S. Summit, Queluz Palace Lisbon, Portugal, May 31, 2000

Few challenges are more profoundly disturbing or more far-reaching than the collective threat posed to the citizens of Africa by three major communicable diseases: HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

While the scope of the threat is global, Africa bears a disproportionate share of the suffering caused by these diseases. This year alone, HIV/AIDS will claim more than two million lives in Africa while more than a million will be lost to malaria and tuberculosis. While there have been some notable positive developments in Africa, the devastating effects of these diseases threaten to reverse decades of development and to rob an entire generation of hope for a better future. This health crisis in much of Africa contributes to a vicious cycle of disease and poverty, eroding security and undermining social and economic development and poverty reduction.

We, the EU and the U.S., reiterate our commitment to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Together with other countries and international organisations, we are already making a major effort. We acknowledge the extensive work being done in this field by many international organisations, such as WHO, World Bank and UNAIDS. But the scale of the problem requires new mechanisms to mobilize international opinion, resources and to take appropriate action to assist African countries.

We welcome the work done in the UN Security Council during the January 2000 U.S. Presidency. In the Cairo Declaration and the Action Plan of April 2000, the EU and African leaders pledged their commitment to pursue further action in this field. The renewal of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement in June 2000 will highlight the need to work with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Partners on a comprehensive approach in the context of poverty reduction. We are looking forward to the G8 initiatives on communicable diseases and poverty at the upcoming Summit in Okinawa.

Today, at the EU-U.S. Summit, we agreed to join forces and to develop new mechanisms and partnerships in response to the threats posed by HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. This will become part of our global agenda. We will work together to advance the following objectives:

International Partnerships

• Having reinforced our own commitment, we call upon others in the international community to join us in combatting HIV/AIDS and controlling malaria and tuberculosis in Africa.
• We will welcome and encourage initiatives aimed at developing international partnerships with the WHO, UNAIDS and other UN agencies, the donor community, governments in developed as well as developing countries, the pharmaceutical industry and civil society to develop new and co-ordinated international responses, sustain successful national health strategies, and improve access to drugs.
• We recognize the central role and responsibilities of governments in Africa in setting priorities and co-ordinating country efforts, and call upon our partners to support such national ownership.
• We will mobilize our diplomats and other representatives in each concerned country to work with national leaders and others to intensify co-operative actions, to share relevant information needed to encourage prevention, and to strengthen local capacity to deliver necessary health services and treatments for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Public Awareness

• We will co-operate to increase public awareness of the scope of the crisis and to propagate effective health and prevention measures. The roles of primary health care services and basic education are crucial, as are information and other disease-targeted campaigns.
• We call upon political leaders in Africa and elsewhere to encourage information and education campaigns, including on how to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. We welcome the success in some countries, where strong political leadership, openness to the issues, and flexible responses come together.

Drugs and Vaccines: Research and Accessibility

• Together with developing country partners and with industry, we will strengthen our research and development co-operation in the fight against these poverty-related diseases. In this respect, we call for enlarged partnerships aimed at speeding up research and development. We will explore new methods of evaluating drugs and vaccines, including strengthening capacity and training in those countries most impacted by these diseases.
• In order to make new drugs, vaccines and other public health intervention methods available faster, we will stimulate increased links between our respective research activities and co-ordinate research tasks.
• We will support the introduction of new financial, legal and investment incentives designed to make drugs and vaccines more accessible and affordable to countries in need. To this end, we will encourage partnerships and international initiatives, such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria, and the EU-ACP Vaccine Independence Initiative in Africa.

Resources

• The EU and U.S. will seek increased governmental and private resources dedicated to the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, including through multilateral organisations and institutions. We acknowledge and encourage the important role of industry, NGOs and civil society.
• In the World Bank and regional development banks, we will support increased financial resources for basic health care systems needed to combat these diseases.
• We will support governments that undertake to improve their health systems with resources made available under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries debt relief initiative and through the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategies developed in consultation with civil society and international donors.

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