The agreement took the form of an addendum to the 2001-2007 cooperation programme, and was signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Henrique Banze, and the head of the European Commission delegation in Maputo, Glauco Calzuola.
With this addendum, the total amount financed by the Ninth EDF for this period is around 560 million euros.
According to Calzuola, the additional sum is intended for a new programme of direct support for the Mozambican state budget for 2008.
He said that the decision to provide this additional sum was based on an assessment of Mozambique's needs, and also resulted from the country's "positive performance" in pursuing its poverty reduction programme (PARPA).
"This decision shows the coherence and predictability of the European Commission's cooperation, and allows the continuation of European Union support for the Mozambican budget for that year of transition (2008) before the 10th EDF takes effect", Calzuola added.
In the near future, the government and the Commission are likely to sign a new agreement on financing under the projected 10th EDF.
SOURCE: AIM
