Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007    Text size: 

The petition, which is in the form of a group on Facebook.com, encourages member countries of the European Union to drop value added taxes (VAT) on condoms, in an attempt to encourage their use and potentially curb increasing HIV rates in Europe.

The online signups will be collected and presented to governmental ministers on Dec. 1 to coincide with Worlds AIDS Day.

"Cutting VAT on condoms to the minimum rate would be both a practical step in tackling AIDS and a powerful symbolic gesture on World AIDS Day,” Socialist Group Vice President Jan Marinus Wiersma said.

"HIV-AIDS is not just an issue for developing countries or specific groups in society. The World Health Organization confirms that new HIV infection rates are growing in its European region. In the European Union 26,984 newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection were reported in 2005. The predominant mode of transmission is heterosexual,” Wiersma said.

VAT rates vary among the 27 members of the European Union, from 0 percent in some countries to 25 percent in Sweden and Belgium. According to the Irish Examiner, VAT rates on condoms are 21 percent. Last year, the British government reduced VAT on condoms from 17.5 percent to 5 percent.

"Our campaign is a serious and practical attempt to make condoms cheaper and to remind young people in particular that HIV and AIDS are still a health threat in Europe,” Socialist Group leader Martin Schulz said.

"We also want more education and awareness. Condoms protect people not only against the rising rate of HIV transmission but also against other sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia. Chlamydia infection rates are climbing and can lead to infertility and in some cases death,” Schulz said.

Since the petition campaign launched on Nov. 8, the Socialist Party reports that more than 1,000 signatures have been collected.

"People power can spur governments to act. We urge people across Europe to take a few minutes to sign our online petition and to join our Facebook group,” Wiersma said.