Following the positive evaluation of the EDCTP programme, which included a public consultation, EDCTP-EEIG Member States (MS) and the European Commission (EC) unanimously agreed to continue with the Partnership. At the MS Consensus Meeting that was held on 27-28 September 2010 in Brussels, the participating MS, Latvia (observer Member State), Poland, African representatives and the EC agreed to continue with a second EDCTP programme.

There was a consensus that the EDCTP-II programme, building on the current one, should be bigger, more ambitious and covering a period of up to twelve years divided into three terms. While still focusing on the current scope of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria phase II and III clinical trials, the new programme was to gradually expand to involve all clinical trial phases (I-IV), health service optimisation research, other neglected infectious diseases, increased membership in Europe and collaborating with other developing countries besides sub-Saharan Africa.

Under the Belgian Presidency of the European Union, the participating MS presented their intention to continue with EDCTP to the EU Competitiveness Council on 26 November 2010.

Following that meeting, a Strategic Business Plan for EDCTP-II, 2014-2024, has been drafted through an extended dialogue between partner countries. This was facilitated by a drafting committee comprising members from Germany, Ghana, Latvia, Spain and UK. As part of this process, during the second half of 2011 GA members presented their country’s indicative financial commitments. They also expressed their commitment to exploring future mechanisms to increase cooperation between national programmes with the goal of greater integration of European national programmes in the scope of EDCTP. The Strategic Business Plan will provide a strong foundation for the legislative process which will take place in Brussels in 2012 and 2013.