The global HIV response effort is a story marked by profound tragedy with millions of lives lost and communities devastated. Still, over 100,000 people are being diagnosed with HIV each year in the WHO Europe region. Yet, the response has also been one of the most remarkable public health successes in managing an epidemic, and a testament to unprecedented innovation and international cooperation.
This hard-won progress now faces the imminent risk of being undone and moving even further away of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ending the epidemic by 2030.
Over the past five years, the European Union has seen a rise in new HIV infections, reversing a decade of steady decline. As Chair of the LGBTQI+ Parliamentary Group and a UNAIDS Red Ribbon Leader, I must highlight the social determinants and consequences of this resurgence.
While the LGBTQIA+ community remains disproportionately affected, we are also witnessing a rise in heterosexual transmissions, particularly among women and young people. Stigma, discrimination and socio-economic inequality continue to block access to prevention and care for the most vulnerable.
Civil society remains at the forefront of the HIV response. In April, I convened the launch of the HIV Prevention Alliance — an initiative uniting those most at risk with clinicians, public health experts, and industry leaders. Their message is clear: Europe must lead by example, with action grounded in both science and social reality.
Prioritising combination HIV prevention is a human rights issue. Our strategies must reflect the lived experiences of those most affected.
Taking action beyond EU borders
We cannot address HIV in Europe without acknowledging the situation in our neighbouring countries. Ukraine and Moldova report the second- and third-highest HIV diagnosis rates in the WHO European region.
The suspension of global aid programmes has exacerbated the crisis, leaving Ukraine at risk of running out of essential prevention and treatment supplies. As the EU continues to support these nations, a robust HIV response must be a central pillar of our engagement.
Last year, G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to health-related SDGs, universal health coverage, and lifelong prevention policies. HIV prevention is central to these goals and must remain high on the agenda.
Whether it’s scaling up access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), expanding harm reduction services, ensuring free and confidential HIV testing, or developing digital tools for outreach, our leaders must reaffirm commitment to ending the HIV epidemic.
The importance of crisis prevention and investment in resilience was also stressed by G7 Finance Ministers earlier this year. HIV is a health crisis in the making if left unaddressed. Current projections estimate an additional 10.7 million infections globally before 2030 due to declining funding. HIV and other epidemics have shown that neglecting prevention anywhere can undermine health security everywhere.
Since 2000, the global HIV response has saved over 25 million lives. Ending the epidemic in Europe is within reach. Thirty years ago, few believed such progress was possible. Today, it is unacceptable that we risk falling short because of political hesitation.
The EU’s 2024–2029 mandate represents our final window to meet the 2030 SDG targets, so I urge all leaders to champion HIV prevention and the broader SDG agenda at the G7 and in every relevant forum.
I will continue working with communities and experts through the HIV Prevention Alliance and beyond. Their insights are essential to scaling up effective prevention across the EU and building a resilient, inclusive response. This is the only path forward towards a future free of HIV.
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