Highest number of new HIV cases in Europe

9.12.2015

Question for written answer E-015599-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Marlene Mizzi (S&D)

On 1 December 2015 — World AIDS Day — we showed our support for the victims of HIV and raised awareness about the AIDS pandemic caused by HIV infection. The most recent surveillance data released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, indicate that the growth of the HIV epidemic is driven by the eastern part of the WHO European Region, where the number of new diagnoses has more than doubled during the past decade. With HIV infection diagnosed in over 142 000 people in 2014, the WHO European Region recorded the highest number of newly diagnosed infections in one year since the start of reporting in the 1980s.

Can the Commission clarify what measures the European Union is taking to raise awareness about early treatment, which is beneficial both for the health of treated individuals and in preventing onward HIV transmission?