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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.

 

Press Contacts:   Mattias Sundholm   Anna Prisco
    202-862-4720
mattias.sundholm@ec.europa.eu
  202-862-6387
anna.prisco@ec.europa.eu

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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