Problem of HIV/AIDS taken very seriously

FOR the past few days, the Irish EU presidency has been hosting an important conference in Dublin: "Breaking the Barriers: Partnership to Fight HIV/AIDS in Europe and Central Asia."

While much attention is given to the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS in Africa, I welcome the attention brought by this conference to the development of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Asia.

Unfortunately, campaigner Bob Geldof has used the occasion to air some of his misperceptions of the EU response to the HIV/AIDS problem in Africa, including the pretended inability to mobilise funds from the European Development Fund to fight the disease. I make myself no illusion that it will be possible to convince Mr Geldof that we are taking the problem of HIV/AIDS very seriously and acting accordingly. Nevertheless, it is important to offer European taxpayers clarifications on our efforts.