Big news in Germany


Jan 14th, 2010 11:02 AM UTC
By Tobias Kahler

In 2007, Germany pledged €600 million between 2008 and 2010 for the Global Fund at its own replenishment conference here in Berlin. ONE repeatedly praised Germany for this commitment. For us it came as a shock when we learned that the Government´s budget proposal for 2010 however does not follow through: GF contributions were reduced by €58m to €142m in 2010. This would have meant that the host of the last replenishment breaks it own promise in a year of the next replenishment – a really bad move.

This Tuesday, the Ministry of Development Cooperation reversed the cuts. The shortfall of 58 million Euro will now come from unspent 2009 money and the “planning reserve” (financial reserves for unexpected expenditures) in the 2010 budget, we and others were told by the Deputy Minister. This money will not be taken away from other budgeted programs as far as we know.

The Financial Times Deutschland on Wednesday reported on the protests against the cuts, using the headline: “Cuts of Anti-Aids-Support Causes Protests” / “Development Ministry back pedals after criticism”. The FTD mentions the organization ONE (“who is supported by Rockstar Bono”…) along with our NGO-friends DSW criticizing the Government for breaking its promises.

TAGS: Germany, Global Fund, ONE

  1. Milva Mariasays: Jan 15th, 2010 1:46 PM EST

    January 15, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    Dear Thobias,

    It is not a surprise that there are such cuts, as the “liberal” are at the Government now :-(

    Rgds, Milva

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