Specific measures to improve maternal health and to help combat poverty diseases in developing countries - Public deliberation (Extract from: Provisional Minutes of the External Relations Council of 1

Brussels, 21 May 2003

The Council took note of a report presented by the Presidency on a seminar with nonñ governmental organisations, held in Athens on 5 and 6 May. 2003.

The Council agreed on two draft Regulations providing for 351 million euros of aid for measures to combat poverty diseases ñ HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis ñ and 73.95 million euros of aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries.

This decision brings to over one billion euros the total money agreed this month for these initiatives, including 400 million euros to be contributed by the Member States and other public and private sources for research and development in poverty diseases.

The political agreement takes on board all of the amendments voted by the European Parliament in first reading. The Council will adopt the two Regulations at its session on 17 and 18 June, after finalisation of the texts.

The two Regulations are part of the European Union's contribution to meeting two of the eight Millennium Development Goals adopted by Heads of State and Government at the United Nations in 2000.

These two Goals are aimed at:
ñ Halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other major diseases by 2015 and beginning their reverse (doc. 8371/03).
ñ Reducing the maternal mortality ratio by threeñquarters between 1990 and 2015 (doc. 8256/03).

For more details, see separate Press Release (doc. 9488/03 Presse 145).

http://ue.eu.int/pressData/en/gena/75857 .pdf