Created in 2005, the EU Civil Society Forum on HIV/AIDS and since 2017, the EU Civil Society Forum on HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis (shortly CSF), has been instrumental in providing and sharing critical information and evidence; in undertaking joint actions and; creating synergies between its members. These activities have advanced policies and interventions improving the health and well-being of communities that are most affected by HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis. The CSF has been channelling information from the ground up to European policy makers and agencies to reform or remove policies that violate fundamental rights and run against scientific evidence. AAE was co-chairing the CSF and providing secretariat work for its operations, and since 2019 has been part of the Coordinating Team, continuing the secretarial support work.

European HIV Legal Forum (EHLF) is a project of AIDS Action Europe focusing on benchmarking legal situation in countries of the WHO European Region about various topics concerning people living with HIV and other key populations. Kicked-off in 2012 as a pilot project, the EHLF has produced several thematic reports and policy papers on access to services for different key populations and on legal and policy barriers to prevention, testing and treatment and care services. The European HIV Legal Forum Network, established in 2023, its main aim is to monitor the HIV response in EU Member States against indicators set by the network members. 

Providing capacity strengthening and building activities for our members has been a strategic objective of AIDS Action Europe. During the 20 years of the network, AAE has provided workshops, trainings, training of trainers, and webinars based on needs of our members and on upcoming hot topics in HIV and other STIs. AAE produced two training manuals as well, one on affordability and pricing of medicines and diagnostics and one on adapting harm reduction services in the context of chemsex, which is now available in several languages.

AIDS Action Europe has been hosting the HIV/AIDS Clearinghouse – the central database on HIV and AIDS in Europe and Central Asia since 2007. The Clearinghouse enables NGOs in Europe and Central Asia to share good practices and key documents so that they can inspire each other in our efforts to fight the HIV epidemic. It is also a platform for networking and promoting one´s work.

After participating in several EU Joint Action, AAE finally is coordinating the CORE Action Grant of 24 partners from 16 EU Member States. CORE – COmmunity REsponse to End Inequalities aims to reduce inequalities in the HIV, TB and viral hepatitis responses by promoting, strengthening and integrating community responses that have proven key in reaching communities that have been traditionally underserved by mainstream prevention and healthcare services. This approach is particularly vital in the context of countries where these responses are still inadequate compared to the EU average.

AIDS Action Europe was representing Europe on the NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board from 2016 to 2018.  This representation provided an excellent opportunity for AAE to put relevant issues on the global agenda and to get and stay involved in the global response, establishing strategic partnerships outside Europe and Central Asia.

AIDS Action Europe has been actively engaged and collaborating with different EU and global agencies. One of the examples of this collaboration was the European Stigma Survey of People Living with HIV, which was conducted in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG). This survey and the following report is the first Europe-wide measure of the state of stigma and an important milestone in the Dublin Monitoring process.

AIDS Action Europe has been providing secretariat work for the COBATEST Network together with CEEISCAT since 2018. AAE is responsible for the development of governance documents, managing Steering Committee elections and organisation and facilitation of the meetings of the Steering Committee.

AIDS Action Europe has participated in several EU Joint Actions, mostly providing communication and dissemination activities as leads of work packages. These joint actions include Quality Action, HAREACT, and ESTICOM. AAE has also participated in several EU projects throughout the years.