Public health and development: actions in the field of the AIDS in developing countries, 1997-1999 programme

OBJECTIVE: implementation of a programme to assist the developing countries to minimize the spread of AIDS and to help them cope with its impact on health and social and economic development. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation 550/97/EC on HIV/AIDS-related operations in developing countries. SUBSTANCE: In this programme the Community is pursuing the following aims: . reducing the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) (in particular: information and education on sexual health with priority being given to at-risk groups and women, improved screening for STD and safety of transfusions, increasing women's power of decision, etc.); . reinforcing the health service so that it can cope with the spread of the disease (in particular: strengthening primary health services, studying ways of improving access to treatment for people infected, blood transfusion and nosocomial safety, improved training for medical personnel and epidemiological monitoring); . helping governments to assess the epidemic's impact and to define and implement strategies to combat it (in particular: technical back-up to analyse the social and economic impact of the epidemic and implementation of suitable strategies, support to optimize NGOs contribution to prevention activities, encouragement of participation by local communities in developing strategies for information); . developing scientific understanding of the epidemic, but excluding basic research (monitoring of programmes based on relevant indicators, support for the exchange of information); . combating discrimination against, and the social and economic exclusion of, persons infected (in particular: promoting respect for the rights of the individual and combating the stigma attached to infected persons). These various measures must take into account various principles including concern for the needs of vulnerable groups, gender-specific approach (men/women), respect for the rights of the individual, the various stages of development of the epidemic, etc. - Beneficiaries: the programme is directed primarily at the poorest and least developed countries and the most disadvantaged sections of the population of developing countries. - Agents of cooperation: national, regional and local government departments and agencies, local authorities and other decentralized bodies, regional and international organizations, research institutes and universities, local communities and the private sector (NGOs, women's organizations, representative associations with experience in the AIDS field). - Eligible expenditure: in the framework of the general objectives of this programme, Community financing may cover investment expenditure (except for real estate) and recurrent expenditure (administrative expenditure, maintenance and running costs). It also includes expenditure on studies, technical assistance, training or other services, supplies and works, as well as audits and evaluation and monitoring missions. Priority will be given to enhancing national capacity with a view to long-term viability. Co-financing with the Member States and the organizations involved in the projects is actively sought according to the nature of the operation concerned and according to the means of the partners concerned. - Form of aid: grants. - Profile of Community actions: measures will be taken to emphasize the Community nature of the planned projects. - Consistency and complementarity: coordination measures with the Commission are planned to guarantee the effectiveness of the operations between all the partners including the Member States (establishment of a system for the exchange of information and on-the-spot coordination of the implementation of operations). Coordination will also be ensured with the activities of other international organizations active in this field (Unaids). - Decision-making procedure: the Commission manages and implements the operations covered by this regulation. It is assisted by the geographically-determined committee competent for the country concerned (ALA, MED, FED) acting under the regulatory committee procedure (type IIIa). The Commission must inform the competent committee succinctly in advance of any decision concerning operations of a value of less than ECU 2 million. For decisions involving larger amounts the decisions will be taken in agreement with the committee. Participation in invitations to tender and the award of contracts is open to recipient countries and the Member States and other developing countries or possibly other third countries in exceptional cases. - Information: an annual report is forwarded by the Commission to Parliament and the Council summarizing the operations financed in the course of that year and evaluating them (any contracts concluded, independent assessments, etc.). It will also inform the Member States, one month after the decision of the operations and projects approved. Once a year there is provision for an exchange of views between the Commission and the various committees concerned on the general guidelines for the operations to be carried out in the year ahead. - Assessment: the Commission will regularly assess operations financed with a view to establishing whether the objectives of the regulation have been achieved. These assessments are forwarded to the various committees and to the Member States requesting them. - Budget: ECU 45 million from 1997 to 1999.Annual appropriations are authorized by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective. ENTRY INTO FORCE: the regulation enters into force on 30/03/1997. After three years of implementation a report should make an overall assessment of this programme with suggestions regarding future operations. �