MEPs Roundtable | Time to Act: Delivering on Europe’s commitment to SDG 3.3 – An EU Action Plan on HIV/AIDS is urgent

Co-organised by MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis (S&D, Lithuania) & MEP Tomislav Sokol (EPP, Croatia)
In collaboration with European AIDS Clinical Society, UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health and HIV Outcomes

Achieving the global target of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030 under SDG 3.3 requires urgent political commitment, funding, and policy action. And the EU continues to lag behind. With five six years to go, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports that EU/EEA countries are yet to meet the goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Although significant steps have been taken to fight HIV in Europe, the urgency and importance of the epidemic demands renewed political dedication, the right level of investment, and the development of policy tools to address the multifaceted challenges of HIV. 

On 17 December 2024, a breakfast discussion was held at the European Parliament, in Strasbourg,  uniting voices from people living with HIV, clinicians, academia, and EU policymakers to advocate for a new EU Action Plan on HIV/AIDS. With the shared ambition to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, this event underscored the need for renewed political dedication and targeted policies that address the complex needs of people living with HIV – such as managing comorbidities, combating stigma, and supporting mental health. The discussion also emphasised the importance of adapting policies to the evolving demographics of the HIV population, ensuring no one is left behind.

Key takeaways:

• Funding remains a major challenge, with there is a need for increased financial investment in healthcare, including HIV initiatives. MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis and MEP Tomislav Sokol noted that budget allocations are a direct reflection of political priorities, and MEP Krzysztof Śmiszek (S&D, Poland) stressed that funding should reflect the importance of human rights in healthcare and inspire changes at the national level.
• Caroline Sabin (HIV Outcomes Co-chair) recognised that collaboration among stakeholders —academia, policymakers, civil society, and healthcare providers— is a cornerstone for HIV progress in Europe, while Mafalda Infante (UNITE Network, Head of Parliamentary Engagement) announced the relaunch of the Informal Working Group on HIV in the European Parliament.
• There is a lack of standardised HIV care practices in Europe, as well as disparities in access to care. While people living with HIV live longer and healthier lives, ageing with HIV presents complex healthcare needs that many clinics across Europe are ill-equipped or, in some cases, reluctant to address.
• MEP Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg) highlighted that 1/3 of Europeans living with HIV experience discrimination, deterring individuals from seeking necessary care.
• MEP Marc Angel (S&D, Luxembourg) joined other participants in stressing the human rights dimension of HIV care, advocating for stronger alignment with EU values of equality and social justice.
• The collection and protection of data for people living with HIV has the potential to enhance the availability of reliable data, support the monitoring of individuals’ health-related quality of life, and improve health interventions.

Read the full report here.