AIDS Action Europe unites civil society to work towards a more effective response to the HIV epidemic in Europe and Central Asia.

AIDS Action Europe History

The establishment of AIDS Action Europe in March 2004 follows a long history of European collaboration among NGOs active in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

2002 Barcelona meeting

At the International AIDS Conference 2002 in Barcelona a couple of European NGOs met to discuss the need for a new European NGO initiative. It was agreed that an extension of the existing networks was needed. There was a need to move beyond networking towards a European NGO partnership with a strong focus on policy, advocacy and practical support.

2002 London meeting

Some of the organisations present in Barcelona gathered in December 2002 in London and discussed ways to take the work forward. At that meeting the organisations agreed to join forces, forming an interim Steering Committee to take on the responsibility for establishing a new European NGO partnership.

2003 Inventory among European NGOs

In 2003, an inventory was held among NGOs and key players in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Europe. Needs, opportunities and support for a new European partnership were assessed. The inventory showed clearly that there was an urgent need for a new Pan-European Partnership on HIV/AIDS. More information can be found in the documents Final Report and the Key Findings of this inventory.

2003 European partner of ICASO

In November 2003 AIDS Action Europe was assigned as the host for the European representation of International Council of AIDS Service Organizations - ICASO.

2004 Open Forum on AIDS Action in Europe

The Open Forum on AIDS Action in Europe in March 2004 was a first public event to launch AIDS Action Europe. Three priority lines of action for AIDS Action Europe were defined:

Addressing the rise of HIV and STIs in Western Europe;
Supporting an effective response to HIV and AIDS in Central and Eastern Europe;
Advocating for sufficient resource mobilisation for the global epidemic.

In reality AIDS Action Europe has focused in its further actions mostly on the first two lines of action and has supported other actors in the field, when necessary, on action line number three.

2005 Western and Eastern Offices

In order to work more successfully towards our second line of action, the AIDS Action Europe secretariat in Amsterdam merged in 2005 with the ICASO Eastern European Partnership office in Vilnius.

2006 Launch of AIDS Action Europe Website

Early 2006 the AIDS Action Europe website was launched in both Russian and English.

2006 Memorandum of Understanding

At the International AIDS Conferece in Toronto AIDS Action Europe organised a members meeting where a Memorandum of Understanding with WHO Europe was signed.