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News Releases
No. 57/07
May 31, 2007
EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT BARROSO ANNOUNCES SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA
EC President
José Manuel Barroso has pledged today 100
million euros for the
Global Fund to fight
HIV/AIDS, TB
and Malaria (GFATM) for 2007, and proposed a further 300
million euros over the following three years. This would
bring the total EC contribution to the Global Fund up to
400 million euros over a period of four years.
 "The European Commission is one of the leaders in the
global fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
This pledge keeps us there. It is part of the European
Union's commitment to the poorest and most vulnerable,
in terms of aid, trade and political support," said
President Barroso during a meeting today with Mr. R.
Gupta, Chair of the Global Fund Board; Mr. M. Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund; Mr.
J. Sampaio, Special Envoy of the UN to fight
Tuberculosis; Mr. M. P. Mocumbi, High Representative of
the EDCTP, as well as with the
Vice President of the
European Parliament, Ms. Luisa Morgantini, and a
representative of the group of
African, Caribbean and
Pacific countries (ACP).
The European Commission has provided 522 million euros
to the Global Fund over the past five years. It remains
determined to continue to take a leading role in the
fight against these diseases.
President Barroso's pledge comes in two parts; firstly
an immediate 100 million euros (equivalent to
approximately US$ 135 million) for the Global Fund for
2007, under the annual Community budget and the 9th
European Development Fund (EDF). Secondly, for the
future, the European Commission is committed to keep the
same level of support to the Global Fund by making
available long-term and predictable funding, thus
contributing to the success of this global initiative.
The European Commission intends to make available for a
three-year period (2008/2010) a total contribution of
300 million euros (equivalent to approximately US$ 400
million), in conformity with the budget procedures. Such
a contribution, financed through the annual budget and
the 10th European Development Fund, would bring the
total EC contribution to the Global Fund up to 400
million euros (equivalent to approximately US$ 540
million) over a period of four years.
Such a level of ambition will enable the EC, in full
partnership with the ACP Group and the EU Member States,
to contribute scaling-up access to prevention,
treatment, support and care services in a great number
of countries in need, particular in
Africa.
Background
The Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and
malaria (GFATM) is a unique financing instrument
supporting developing countries to confront these three
communicable diseases related to poverty. Over the last
five years, the Global Fund has grown to become a
prominent financier of programs to fight AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria, with over US$ 10 billion in
firm pledges and commitments of more than US$ 7 billion
for programs in 136 countries. So far programs supported
by the Global Fund have saved approximately 1.8 million
people's lives, and the number is increasing rapidly
with an estimated 3,000 additional lives saved per day,
through providing AIDS treatment for 1.1 million people,
TB treatment for 2.8 million people, effective medicines
for 23 million cases of malaria and distributing bed
nets to 30 million families in Africa and beyond.
The European Commission has already provided a total of
522 million euros over a period of five years. The
European Commission fully acknowledges the support
provided over the years by the European Parliament and
by the ACP Group. They both have played a key role in
making sure that an appropriate level of financial
resources be made available to the Global Fund on an
annual basis.
Further Contact Information
Press and Public Diplomacy
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766
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