EU Steps Up Commitment to Ending AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by pledging €550 million for the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment during G7 Summit in France

Biarritz, France, 24 August 2019 – Friends of the Global Fund Europe welcomes the European Union’s decision to boost its investment in the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The much anticipated pledge was announced today by President of the European Council Donald Tusk at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France, which focuses especially on global challenges and tackling inequalities.

This represents a 16% increase to the EU’s contribution to the Global Fund for the current three-year period. The EU is the Fund’s 6th largest donor, with investments totalling over €2 billion. Together with its Member States, the Union contributes about half of the Global Fund’s resources.

Greeting the announcement, Charles Goerens, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chair of Friends of the Global Fund Europe, stated: “I commend the Commission’s bold leadership to renew its commitment to combatting infectious diseases. Anchored within the EU is the profound value of a solidarity that is smart and strategic, mutually beneficial to Europeans and our partners alike. With this investment, the EU confirms that the Global Fund is a crucial actor in helping countries reduce inequalities, improve health security, save lives and build more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous societies.”

France will host the Global Fund’s 6th Replenishment Conference in Lyon on 10 October 2019.  The Global Fund is aiming to raise at least US$14 billion for 2020-2022, the opening years of a decade which must deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, including the targets of stopping AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria by 2030. This amount is the minimum required if the world is committed to getting back on track to ending the diseases by 2030, which is entirely possible if all partners scale up their commitments, just like the EU demonstrated.

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Press contact:

Anissa TIJANI
Press Relations and Communications Officer
Friends of the Global Fund Europe
anissatijani@afmeurope.org
+33 (0) 1 44 07 08 66