EG on HIV/AIDS

Sixth Meeting

Berlin, Germany

14-15 March 2007

Reference / HIV/AIDS 6/7/Info 2
Title / EU ND Guidelines 11.1.2006 (Road Map)
Submitted by / HIV/AIDS EG Chair
Summary / Note
Requested action / For information

GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POLITICAL DECLARATION AND A POLICY FRAMEVORK DOCUMENT FOR THE NORTHERN DIMENSION POLICY FROM 2007

I) Road Maps for the Common Economic Space

The overall objective of the CES is the creation of an open and integrated market between the EU and Russia. The aim is to put in place conditions, which will increase opportunities for economic operation and promote trade and investments.

The Road Map for the Common Space for Freedom, Security and Justice and the Road Map for Research and Education include the following themes related closely to health and social well- being:

- Exchange of experiences on reduction of demand for drugs, including the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addiction, paying particular attention to high-risk groups so as to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases

- Promotion of the work of relevant NGOs to tackle social aspects of the drug problem, including prevention and rehabilitation of the victims of drugs addiction

- Exchange of information on data collection and drug information systems between the Russian Federal authorities and the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction

- Combat against trafficking in human beings

- Promotion of the development of the skills education programmes for youth (on smoking, physical exercise, drugs, alcohol, HIV/AIDS, etc.)

II) Guidelines for the Development of a Political Declaration and a Political Framework Document for the Northern Dimension Policy from 2007

- Northern Dimension Policy from 2007 onwards

It is stated in the Guidelines document that the ND requires some reshaping in order to better fit into the new operational environment. The ND policy should be used as a political and operational framework for promoting the implementation of the EU-Russia Common Spaces at regional/ sub-regional/ local level in the North. ..it should continue to include some additional objectives of specific relevance in the North, i.e. its fragile environment, indigenous peoples’ issues, health and social well-being, etc..

- Cooperation sectors

It is proposed in the Guidelines that the following ND sector division could be established:

·  Economic cooperation

·  Freedom, security and justice

·  External security

·  Research, education and culture

·  Environment, nuclear safety and natural resources

·  Social welfare and health care: (prevention of communicable diseases and life-style related diseases, supporting the work of the Partnership in Health and Social Well-being).

It is stated in the Guidelines document that the ND also promotes the development of national and regional strategies for sustainable development, in line with internationally recognized principles, as well as good governance, transparency and participation, gender equality, the rights of minorities, social cohesion, non-discrimination, the protection of indigenous peoples and supports the further strengthening of civil society and democratic institutions.

III) The Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being

- The Northern Dimension Partnership was established in Oslo in October 2003. The Partnership comprises 13 countries and eight international and regional organisations. The secretariat of the Partnership is in Stockholm.

- The aim of the Partnership is to improve people’s health and well-being by promoting healthy lifestyles, by combating communicable and non-communicable diseases and by promoting cooperation between health and social services.

- The main emphasis of the Partnership is to prevent infectious diseases such as HIV/Aids and tuberculosis and to promote healthy and socially rewarding lifestyles including sexual health, reducing the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs as well as improving social and working environments.

- The following Expert Groups have been established to promote the implementation of the priorities of the Partnership:

1) Expert Group on HIV/AIDS; the main objectives and priority areas of the working group are to enhance surveillance to get precise information on HIV/Aids, to promote general awareness of the HIV epidemic, to develop legislation, rules and regulations, to promote preventive measures as well as to improve treatment, care and management.

- The expert group works in close cooperation with the Barents HIV/Aids Programme and with the pilot project supporting the development of low threshold service centres in the Murmansk and Arhangelsk regions.

- The ND Partnership strongly supports the objectives of the Road Maps on Security and Education in the field of health promotion and prevention of drug abuse and HIV/Aids.

- The ND Partnership implements and supports regional and local cooperation in the implementation of the objectives of the Roads Maps, which are stressed in the Guidelines on ND. The activities of the Partnership are focused on the North, one of the target groups being the indigenous peoples.

2) Expert Group on Prison Health; the priority areas of the working group in the field of health are the prevention of communicable diseases such as HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases and other infectious diseases, the rehabilitation of drug abusers, especially intravenous drug users and alcohol abusers, the prevention of smoking as well as the support and health care for prisoners with mental disorders. In the field of social welfare, the promotion of social rehabilitation programmes for prisoners and educational programmes and vocational training are implemented.

- The work of the Partnership in the field of prison health supports the objectives of the Road Map on Security by preventing of the use of drugs as well as communicable diseases such as HIV/Aids and tuberculosis.

3) Expert Group on Primary Health Care; the main objective of the working group is to raise awareness among authorities and other stakeholders of the significant role primary health care plays in the promotion of health and social well-being as well as to highlight the importance of primary health care in connection with health care reforms.

4) Expert Group on Social Inclusion and Health Promotion; the aim of the working group is to prevent social exclusion, to promote healthy and socially rewarding life-styles as well as to enhance better social and working environment.

5) The Network on Trafficking in Human Beings; the aim of the network is to promote cooperation of various organisations combating trafficking in human beings. The Network will be taking measures in order to ensure more comprehensive and coordinated work against trafficking and among the victims of trafficking.

The most important contributions of the ND Partnership to the Road Maps for the Common Economic Space include:

- Partnership priority areas enhancing the prevention of drug use, the treatment of drug users as well as the prevention of HIV/Aids and other infectious diseases.

- Development of youth health education promoting healthy and socially rewarding life-styles and strengthening social cohesion

- Coordination and promotion of regional cooperation in the prevention of trafficking in human beings and in helping the victims of trafficking.

- Promotion of activities of the authorities and NGOs in the field of health care and social well-being and further strengthening of civil society and democratic institutions in the region.

- The Partnership promotes the further development of gender equality and the health and social well-being of indigenous peoples.

HIV-AIDS_6-7 Info_2_EU_ND_Guidelines_110106.doc