Commuters across the Brussels metro are being invited to consider the tangible impact of global health investment through a new awareness campaign. The initiative highlights that a commitment of €800 million from the European Commission to the Global Fund could save up to 1.2 million lives—roughly equal to the entire population of Brussels. The campaign is led by Friends of the Global Fund Europe, ONE Campaign, Alliance for Public Health, Global Health Advocates, and Aidsfonds, and is part of a wider joint appeal endorsed by 330 organizations across Europe and beyond. These groups are urging the European Commission to demonstrate global health leadership by committing funds ahead of the Global Fund’s February Board meeting.
An €800 million contribution from the EU could save 1.2 million lives, generate billions in economic returns, and strengthen health systems worldwide. This investment would help countries prevent and respond to disease outbreaks, accelerate innovation, uphold human rights and gender equality, and build resilient health systems capable of adapting to climate change. Beyond health, it would enable communities to achieve long-term self-reliance, creating a lasting and broad societal impact.
Despite the EU’s history as a global health champion, the European Commission did not make a pledge at the Global Fund replenishment summit held last November alongside the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. Without sufficient investment, prevention programs slow, treatments are delayed, and lives are lost. With the Global Fund’s Board meeting in February determining country allocations, a timely EU pledge is essential to ensure resources are distributed efficiently and programs continue without interruption.
The Global Fund, established in 2002 with European Commission support, is a unique partnership that mobilizes global resources to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria while strengthening health systems. To date, it has saved 70 million lives and transformed communities once devastated by these diseases. Its work extends beyond health by keeping children in school, supporting economic development, and enabling communities to plan for a more secure future.
Committing to the Global Fund represents both a strategic investment and an act of global solidarity. By supporting this initiative, Europe has the opportunity to make a decisive impact, protecting lives and contributing to a safer, healthier world for all.
