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The European Commission (EC) on Monday made an additional US $70.3 million donation to the Global Fund to accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in developing countries.
Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, said this amount brought the EC's total contribution to the Fund since 2002 to almost $424 million.
In a statement Michel noted: "HIV/AIDS is a major obstacle to development, notably in sub-Saharan Africa. The international community must help the governments of developing countries to meet this challenge."
The EC pledge comes hot on the heels of the British government, who announced plans on Friday to double its annual pledge to the Fund from $89.5 million a year to more than $175 million for 2006 and 2007.
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