Croatian accession, 2012 budget, December summit on Brussels plenary

Midway through the 2009-2013 EU action plan to combat HIV/AIDS, the MEPs are concerned that the number of new infections remains high and called for more effective prevention strategies in a resolution voted 1 December, World AIDS Day.

There were close to 27,000 new infections in the EU in 2010, the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) and World Health Organisation Europe say in its latest annual report.

The EP wants country specific action plans to combat HIV, with emphasis on prevention, testing and equal access to treatment everywhere in the EU.

Testing and early diagnosis is very important, since the ECDC estimates that around a third of those infected with HIV in the EU do not know that they have the virus.

Groups most at risk need support and prevention measures should include adequate sex education and access to the means of protection, says the EP resolution.

In the EU, predominant HIV transmission is through sex between men, followed by heterosexual contact, especially among people originating from countries with generalised HIV epidemics, and intravenous drug use.

Parliament calls on member states to take all necessary action to end discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and supports the UN's commitment to ensure treatment for 15 million people worldwide and reduce new infections 50% by 2015.