23/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - Various non-governmental organisations have criticised the lack of tangible commitments from EU heads of state at the Thessalonica Summit in terms of the EU's contribution to the global fund to combat AIDS, TB and malaria. The paragraph in the Thessalonica European Council Conclusions mentioning the promise to donate EUR 1 billion a year (from the EU budget and national contributions) was removed as requested by several countries (at a press conference, the British foreign Jack Straw named Germany and the Netherlands). The initial version was supported by the UK and France. European politicians have shown that as far as Europe is concerned, the life of 40 million people is not worth 0.03% of GDP, commented an Act Up activist.