European Commission Donates $70 Million to Global Fund; Total Commitments Since 2002 Total More Than $500 Million

The European Commission on Monday announced it has donated about $70 million to the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, VOA News reports. The donation brings the EC's total commitments to the fund since 2002 to more than $500 million (VOA News, 8/1). The EC is the second-largest contributor to the Global Fund after the U.S. (EurActiv.com, 8/1). The commission plans to spend more than $1.3 billion between 2003 and 2006 to fight the three poverty-related diseases, which cause a total of six million deaths worldwide annually. "HIV/AIDS is a major obstacle to development, notably in sub-Saharan Africa," Louis Michel, EC commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, said, adding, "The international community must help governments of developing countries to meet this challenge" (EC release, 8/1).

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