The European Union, speaking on behalf of its 27 Member States at the UN General Assembly High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS on 22 June 2026, called for accelerated, multisectoral and rights-based action to end the epidemic by 2030, warning that the window to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.3 is closing rapidly and that global HIV targets for 2025 have not been met. Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the EU Delegation to the UN, delivered the statement, reaffirming the bloc's long-standing commitment since the 2001 Declaration and highlighting a pledge of more than €3 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria's 8th replenishment.
The EU outlined seven priority areas for the 2026 Political Declaration, which the bloc said must serve as a pathway to accelerated action grounded in science, solidarity, accountability and human rights. First, it stressed the need to keep HIV/AIDS high on global health, development, human rights and humanitarian agendas, with a focus on key populations, adolescent girls and young women. Second, it called for stronger synergies with efforts addressing tuberculosis, hepatitis, HPV and other co-infections, including through links with mental health care. Third, it urged genuine collaboration among governments, civil society, communities, young people, the scientific community, the private sector and international organisations. Fourth, it advocated expanding equitable, human rights-based access to PrEP, long-acting options and combination prevention tailored to local needs, while integrating HIV services with sexual and reproductive health and rights. Fifth, it emphasised the transition towards health sovereignty with country ownership and stronger domestic financing, complemented by predictable international cooperation. Sixth, it reiterated the need to respect the existing international regulatory framework, including intellectual property rules and voluntary technology transfer on mutually agreed terms. Seventh, it called for tackling inequalities, eliminating stigma and discrimination, and strengthening community-led responses, including sustainable funding and removal of discriminatory laws.
The statement comes as the EU positions itself as a steadfast supporter of the global HIV response through financing and support for sustainable health systems. The bloc's pledge of over €3 billion to the Global Fund's 8th replenishment was cited as a recent example of its commitment. The High-level Meeting, co-led by Georgia and Botswana, is expected to produce a new Political Declaration that will guide international efforts until 2030. The EU's emphasis on human rights, community involvement and integrated services reflects its longstanding approach, while the call for country ownership and domestic financing signals a push for sustainability beyond donor support. The impact of the EU's stance will depend on whether the final Declaration incorporates these priorities and whether member states follow through on financing pledges, particularly as competing global crises risk diverting attention and resources from the HIV response.