On Tuesday, May 1, 2007 in Neiafu Vava'u, the Hon. S Tu'a Taumoepeau-Tupou, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Acting Governor of Vava'’u and National Authorizing Officer for the EU Development Programme to Tonga, in the presence of Ms. Gabriela Kohler-Raue, First Secretary and Head of Social Section in the European Commission Delegation for the Pacific in Suva, concluded the Financing Agreement for the Technical Cooperation Facility which will provide funds of Euro 500,000 (around TOP$ 1.4 million) by the European Commission (EC) to facilitate the implementation of the EC funded projects in Tonga.

The TCF will provide specific funding for;

-Technical Asistance facility to ensure effective implementation of the National Indicative Programme (NIP);

-General Training;

-Support for the consultation process on political reforms.

The EC funding support for the TCF comes in addition to the on-going Vava...’u Social Sector Support Program (VSSSP) in the tune of Euro 3.5 million. Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 01/05/07.