EU under pressure to lead by example on Global Fund

BRUSSELS — France has warned the European Commission that negotiations over its seven-year budget are “no excuse” for delaying the announcement of how much it intends to commit to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for 2020-2022. The fund, a multilateral health partnership, is aiming to raise $14 billion at its sixth replenishment conference in October in Lyon, France. On Monday, the European Union’s development commissioner Neven Mimica presented the final €73 million ($81.8 million) of the EU’s €475 million pledge to the Global Fund for 2017-2019. However, Mimica said at an event in Brussels that because the bloc’s 2021-2027 budget is still subject to negotiations with member states and the European Parliament, “I am not in a position today to announce and commit [an] exact figure of the European Union’s contribution to the [fund’s replenishment] as it falls under [the] uncertain scope of the next, still nonexistent, EU budget.” Instead, Mimica pointed out that the commission’s budget proposal represents a 30% increase in its overseas spending, and that he would not like to see its next Global Fund commitment fall short of the amount pledged for the current period. “I hope we shall soon be ready to present our replenishment commitment,” he said. “The sooner the better.” But during a panel discussion after Mimica’s speech, France’s ambassador to the EU, Philippe Léglise-Costa, said the budget process is “not an excuse” and “not only must the EU bring the necessary contribution, but it has to do it early.” Léglise-Costa told Devex that “from an administrative perspective,” the commission’s position makes sense, but from a legal perspective, if they wanted to announce their commitment now, “they could easily put a footnote saying ‘without prejudice’ and then we’ll see.” A commission spokesperson declined to comment on Léglise-Costa’s suggestion. The ambassador said the EU commitment should come within weeks, in time to inspire others. “If it comes on October 10, it would [be] useful, but it would be a shame because it would be a missed opportunity to mobilize other donors,” Léglise-Costa said. There is no guarantee the EU budget process will be finished by October, with some of the thorniest issues put aside until the fall for discussions between ambassadors and possibly heads of state. The commission is the sixth-largest donor to the fund and has contributed more than €2 billion since 2002. So far this year, Portugal has more than tripled its previous pledge to €750,000, Ireland upped its commitment from €30 million to €45 million, and Luxembourg increased its commitment by 11% to €9 million. "For the last GF replenishment, the EU made an early pledge increasing its contribution to the Global Fund by more than 20%,” Friederike Röder, EU and France director at the ONE Campaign, told Devex. “This was a crucial move to ensure that the GF would be fully funded. This time, the EU needs to show the same ambitious leadership, to ensure Lyon is a success and we can save 16 million more lives in the next three years.” Charles Goerens, a liberal member of the European Parliament from Luxembourg, joked at the event that the commission now had a new function “building the suspense,” but predicted it would announce its contribution in time to influence other donors. “The commission can do it and say ‘unless it is rejected by the member states,’” he told Devex. “The member states will also be present in Lyon. Nobody will say they will be against the commission. Nobody will say that.” Asked whether he thought the EU was using its budget process as an excuse, Peter Sands, the Global Fund’s executive director, told Devex: “The commission has been a great supporter of the Global Fund and we are confident that it will continue to be a very strong supporter.”