9 September 2005
France/UK Statement on innovative sources of financing for development
The UK and France firmly believe that innovative financing mechanisms can help deliver and bring forward the financing needed to achieve the MDGs.
Following the positive Eurostat decision the UK and France have launched the IFF for Immunisation (IFFIm). The IFFIm will frontload $4 billion to help save 5 million children's lives before 2015. The UK will contribute 35 per cent of the total resources required, equivalent to an average of $130 million a year; France will contribute 25 per cent of the total resources required, equivalent to an average of $100 million a year.
The UK and France will implement an air ticket solidarity levy. This levy could be differentiated between European and non-European flights, as well as between economy and first/ business class passengers. The UK already has such an air ticket levy. Part of the revenues of such a levy will finance health development projects, in particular the purchase of drugs against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. France and the UK will implement the International Finance Facility and are ready to participate using part of the revenues from the air ticket solidarity levy. A working group will be set up to consider the detailed implementation issues of the IFF financed by an air ticket levy and will deliver its conclusions on these issues before next January.
In the context of the coming UN Summit, the UK and France urge other countries to join us, sign the September 2005 New York Declaration on innovative sources of financing for development, and take part in a Ministerial conference that will be hosted by France in February 2006.