Brussels, 31/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - The G8 summit under the German presidency (Heiligendamm, 6-8 June) will focus on African economic development and is expected to adopt, among other things, a declaration on stepping up the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. With just a few days to go before the summit opens, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso announced in Brussels on 31 May that the Commission will be stepping up its action against the so-called poverty diseases - financially through an additional contribution to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and politically, by playing the role of catalyst in efforts deployed by the European Union, the leading world donor.
A further €100 million will be paid to this fund in 2007 and some €300 million will be made available over the period 2008-2010. The Community fund and the European Development Fund (EDF) intended for EU/ACP partnership (African, Caribbean, Pacific) will be used for this contribution. Mr Barroso announced the news to the representatives of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria when they were received at the Commission on 31 May, and will also take the message to the G8 summit, enlarged to the heads of state and government of Africa and emerging countries.
Speaking to the press, José Manuel Barroso, accompanied by leaders of the Global Fund, Luisa Morgantini (GUE, Italy), vice president of the European Parliament, and a representative of the ACP states group welcomed the meeting that allowed them to explore ways and means for more resolute action. The president said: “I have confirmed the EU's commitment to combating these three pandemics. We have discussed what is needed to do more. I have announced that we shall try to stimulate the Commission and member states' knowledge and capacities. An action plan will be presented at the end of 2007. But I have also announced what we can do immediately (…). This level of ambition would take the Community contribution to €400 million over four years. The European Parliament and the ACP states are central players, ensuring an adequate level of financing”. With EU contributions in research, development aid, and individual contributions from member states, the EU alone provides 55% of the resources of the Global Fund, he said, adding: “I firmly intend to keep up the pace of our commitments towards Africa”. This way of thinking takes in the assurance recently given to John Kufuor, president of the African Union, and the letter addressed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, G8 president, and to the heads of state of all member states to ensure that the EU keeps its promises regarding growth in official development aid (EUROPE 9433).
Robert Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund against the three pandemics, thanked the Commission, which is the “fifth largest donor” all on its own. Although the EU is the first fund donor, “the results of the Global Fund are very encouraging in return: tackling these three fatal diseases is no longer a dream. In four and a half years, 1.1 million people have received anti-retroviral treatment, 2.8 million have been treated against tuberculosis, and insecticides have been distributed to 30 million families with 3,000 lives being saved daily”, said Mr Kazatchkine. The Global Fund, which covers a quarter of total spending required for combating the three pandemics, and two thirds of the spending required for combating malaria and tuberculosis, hopes to double what it pays out in the years to come, to $6-8 billion per year by 2010 (against 3.5 billion at present). Mr Barroso “warmly welcomed” the additional contribution of US$15 billion announced by President Bush for combating AIDs over the period 2008-2010. (an)