Health Minister Louis Deguara has attended a meeting of ministers from the European Union and neighbouring countries that discussed the HIV and Aids problem.

The meeting, in Bremen, was organised by the German presidency of the EU and was addressed by German chancellor Angela Merkel.

It put emphasis on the conclusions of two conferences on the subject, held in Dublin and Vilnius, and focused on the absolute need for cooperation between governments and civil societies in combating the HIV and Aids problem.

The Bremen Declaration, which was issued at the meeting, recognises the seriousness and danger of the global pandemic and urges a commitment on the part of everyone to implement an action programme.