BRUSSELS, May 31 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Joseanuel Barroso on Thursday pledged 100 million euros (about 134 million U.S. dollars) for the HIV/AIDS global fund for 2007, and proposed a further 300 million euros (about 403 million dollars) over the following three years.

    Barroso made the commitment at a meeting with top leaders of the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

    "The European Commission is one of the leaders in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This pledge keeps us there. It is part of the European Union's commitment to the poorest and most vulnerable, in terms of aid, trade and political support."

    The European Commission has provided 522 million euros (about 702 million dollars) to the fund over the past five years.

    So far programs supported by the global fund have saved approximately 1.8 million lives. Currently, an estimated 3,000 additional lives are being saved per day, through providing AIDS treatment for 1.1 million people, tuberculosis treatment for 2.8 million, as well as effective medicines for 23 million cases of malaria, and distributing bed nets to 30 million families in Africa and elsewhere.