EU leaders have refused to match a US pledge to give $1 billion (€0.85 billion) to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS in 2004, but have promised to make a substantial payment to the fund, reports Denis Staunton.
Germany and the Netherlands refused to agree to a joint declaration promising that the EU would give "up to €1 billion" next year to fight HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
France and Britain were the most powerful advocates of a concrete figure for the EU's contribution and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, expressed his support for the proposal.
"We're strongly supportive of that initiative and these scourges collectively killed more than six million people last year, largely in low-income countries and largely in Africa," Mr Ahern said.
The leaders approved the appointment of Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, the governor of the Banque de France, to succeed Mr Wim Duisenberg as president of the European Central Bank (ECB).
The decision follows Mr Trichet's acquittal this week by a Paris court of charges in connection with the collapse of the Credit Lyonnais bank.
Mr Trichet must be approved by EU finance ministers, probably at their next meeting in July.
He will also have to be confirmed by EU leaders after a confirmation hearing in the European Parliament, likely to be in early September.
The procedure for appointing the new central bank chief is likely to be completed in mid-October.