Brown and Merkel announce world health plan
Wednesday, 22 Aug 2007 19:46
Gordon Brown and Angela Merkel announce new world health initiative
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Gordon Brown and Angela Merkel have announced the creation of a new international health partnership after holding talks at Downing Street.
In the German chancellor's first visit to Britain since Mr Brown replaced Tony Blair as prime minister, the two leaders vowed to make better use of overseas aid for health projects in the developing world.
The project, supported by the World Bank and the World Health Organisation (WHO) and also involving Canada and Norway, is aimed at reducing child and maternal mortality and tackling diseases such as HIV/Aids.
Prior to the talks, a Downing Street spokeswoman said a range of international development issues were also on the agenda for the meeting.
Trade and other issues previously discussed at the G8 summit are also expected to have been covered during the meeting at No 10.
The leaders are set to go to Wembley to watch the friendly football match between England and Germany after the talks.
The meeting comes at a time when the Conservative party has urged the prime minister to hold a referendum on the EU treaty, claiming it is similar to the one already rejected by French and German voters in 2005.
Mr Brown has insisted that the UK will maintain control over foreign policy and would not accept changes on 'red lines' such as human and social rights.
The last conference on the EU treaty was held in July. Portugal, which took over the presidency of the union from Germany, presented a draft treaty at the conference.
In previous talks on the treaty in June concessions were made to Poland, which feared that its voting rights would be undermined under new arrangements regarding the running of the 27-member bloc.