19/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair have written to Costas Simitis ahead of the European Council of Thessaloniki, to say that the time is right for the European Union to reassert itself as the leader in the global effort for international development. Mr Chirac and Mr Blaie point out that, at the G8 Summit in Geneva, they had asked for the EU contribution to the Global Health Fund to equal that of the United States (i.e. up to 1 billion dollars in 2004), and acknowledged the need for considerably greater resources to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals. They noted that the proposals for an International Finance Facility were favourably received in Evian by heads of developing countries, and added: just as we borrow domestically to fund investment in our own infrastructure, health and education, it makes equal economic sense to borrow to invest in the future prosperity and stability of developing countries. The French President and British Prime Minister hope that the Ecofin Council will examine and approve this initiative, in order to free up the resources needed to achieve the Millennium Goals.