Commissioner Piebalgs proposes 10% increase in funding to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GATFM)
Commissioner Piebalgs said: «Two weeks ago during the UN MDG Summit the world committed to turn Millennium Development «Goals» into «Realities». Today, we can turn our commitments into actions. Creating more and inclusive growth in developing countries to reach the MDGs can simply not be achieved without a healthy population. The EU will continue to support the Global Fund in fight against these deadly diseases.»
Andris Piebalgs participates in the Third Voluntary Replenishment Pledging Conference of the Global Fund in New York. Two weeks after the UN Summit on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs,) the Global Fund is calling for a replenishment of its resources for the year 2011 – 2013. If approved, the contribution of the EU to the Global Fund could increase at least by 10% for 2011 – 2013, reaching €330 million.
During the conference, Commissioner Piebalgs announced the commitment of the European Commission to increase its financial contribution to the Global Fund. The proposal is a subject to approval of budgetary authorities of the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group (ACP). Currently the Commission contributes €100 million per year for the period 2008 – 2010.
The European Commission is a founding member of the Global Fund. It has been providing strong political and financial support to it since 2002. From 2002 to 2010, the European Commission has contributed a total of €972.5 million, which makes it the fifth largest donor to the fund (after the USA, France, Italy and Japan). Over the same period, the European Union has contributed more than $9 billion or 52% of the GFATM resources.
The EU also adopted
conclusions 
on 10 May 2010 on its role in global health, to promote a
strong EU vision, common voice and action in global health, and to support
innovative sources of financing for the health sector to advance towards the
achievement of the MDGs related to health.
Background
The GFATM is a global financing mechanism established in 2001 as part of the international response to the worldwide emergency caused by the three communicable diseases. From 2002 to 2009, the Global Fund has committed $19.3 billion for 572 grants in 144 countries and has disbursed $10.3 billion to grant recipients (53%). It has put over 2.5 million people on HIV/AIDS treatment, 6 million people on anti-tuberculosis treatment and distributed 104 million insecticide-treated bed nets for malaria prevention.
More info:
Website of DG Development on combating HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria:
Website of the European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs
