A.I.D.S. standing for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is the decease caused by the virus HIV. Nowadays AIDS is one of the main death reasons worldwide. The statistics are far from encouraging:

• More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.
• Africa has 11.6 million AIDS orphans.
• At the end of 2007, women accounted for 50% of all adults living with HIV worldwide, and for 59% in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Young people (under 25 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide.
• In developing and transitional countries, 9.7 million people are in immediate need of life-saving AIDS drugs; of these, only 2.99 million (31%) are receiving the drugs.

The EU has to use all its forces and spend enough money to protect its people from this threat to their future. The Dublin Declaration is definitely a step towards this direction. Yet since 2004, when the Declaration was signed, little progress has been made and statistics show once again that the virus is continually spreading. What is more the European Commission when setting the 2008-2013 Health program has made little reference to this disease indicating that probably we are paying little attention to a very important matter. What has to be done is:

1. Despite the fact that it has proved to be difficult to make an effective vaccine due to the virus’ persistence, continual spread, attrition of CD4+ cells and the fact that HIV resists neutralization and it is difficult to implement efficacy trials, EU has to spend enough money on research and new medical methods in order to find a vaccine that prevents or/and cures the HIV virus.

2. Acknowledging the power of media and education EU has to invest on both in a way to break the existing stereotypes and myths about AIDS by integrating AIDS sufferers into society and encourage them to teach about AIDS and to take part in relative campaigns in order to raise public awareness, while serving as a positive example on how to live with a disease

3. In addition to providing enough HIV counseling and testing facilities to meet demand, it is important for EU to encourage people to use such services. Raising awareness of the benefits of treatment provides people with an incentive to learn their HIV status, and so should help to increase demand. However, in many societies fear of stigma and discrimination remains a serious barrier to testing. To help overcome this problem, many countries should move towards offering every patient an HIV test as a routine part of health care, regardless of symptoms.

4. Promote the condom use especially for young people and the provision of free condoms in developing countries.

5. Establish a world organization for monitoring the progress on fighting HIV worldwide, exchanging acquired knowledge and contribute to fundraising in a way for developing new methods that would be more efficient.

6. Initiate the extension of Council regulation 953/2003 to countries in need of price reduced drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS.

7. Ensure non-discriminatory policies in the workplace and generally in social life by providing evidence on the possible ways of infection.

8. Collaborate with pharmaceutical companies to facilitate access to affordable treatment for patients.