Letter on the Global Fund’s next replenishment

June 8, 2022 by Charles Goerens

Together with several other MEPs, I have sent a letter to the European Commission asking for an increase of the EU's contribution to the Global Fund by at least 30%.

To: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships

Dear President, dear Commissioner,

As Members of the European Parliament, we are writing to you today because we are very
concerned about the state of play in the fight against HIV, TB and malaria. Indeed, the COVID 19
pandemic has for the first time in 20 years, reversed the progress achieved so far for all three
diseases, making communities affected by these diseases pay a high price. We believe that the
European Union must invest now in the Global Fund to bring us closer to eliminating HIV, TB and
malaria, to ensure that health systems are truly universal and that everyone everywhere is
protected from infectious diseases.

With increased support, the Global Fund can do more to support countries’ efforts to build
integrated, people-centred, gender-sensitive and rights-based health systems that are better
suited to prevent, detect and respond to infectious diseases. We believe it is all the more
important to provide the Global Fund with sufficient resources because the HIV epidemic has
jeopardised the progress made over the past 20 years and because new crises, such as the war in
Ukraine, could lead to a resurgence of HIV and TB and reverse the gains made in public health.
We sincerely believe that investing in the health of all people means also investing in a more
sustainable global social system. For this reason, the leadership of the European Commission
remains more critical today than ever.

In May 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on “accelerating progress and
tackling inequalities to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030”, calling on the Commission to
scale up its investments in the Global Fund. For its next replenishment, the Global Fund is seeking
to raise at least 18 billion, which turns our call on the Commission into a tangible objective. The
Global Fund’s target, representing an increase of at least 30% compared to the current 3-year
period, translates into a pledge of at least € 715 million for the Commission. US President Biden
has asked Congress to allocate $6 billion to the Global Fund and to match $1 for every $2 raised
from other donors, until the target is met. We therefore urge the Commission to show our
transatlantic ally that Europe stands ready to fulfil its part by contributing at least € 715 million
to the Global Fund’s 7th replenishment, thereby leveraging at least € 357.5 million from the US.
Great value for money in times where we need to choose where our Euros will have the most
impact.

We trust the Commission will show continued European leadership in global health by honoring
our plea.

Yours sincerely,

Charles Goerens, Member of the European Parliament
David MacAllister, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the AFET Committee
Tomas Tobé, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the DEVE Committee
Maria Arena, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the DROI Committee
María Soraya Rodriguez Ramos, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the D-PAP
delegation
Carlos Zorrinho, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the ACP-EU delegation