ASUNCION, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Paraguay and the European Union (EU) signed the Economic Integration Aid Agreement on Thursday, which includes the EU's donation of six million euros (nine million U.S. dollars) to Paraguay, local authorities said.

    Geoffrey Barrett, head of the European Commission delegation to Uruguay and Paraguay, and Paraguay's Foreign Minister Hector Lacognata signed the agreement.

    The donation was non-refundable aid, and would be administered in 48 months by Paraguay's Ministry of Industry and Commerce, authorities said.

    The agreement will help tighten control on the commodities entering or leaving the country, provide more information about national production and diversify Paraguay's export markets.

    The agreement will also help surpass the asymmetries in the integration processes that currently affect Paraguay. It will have a local match fund of 1.2 million euros (1.8 million dollars).

    Regarding Paraguay-U.S. cooperation, Paraguayn President Fernando Lugo and U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay Liliana Ayalde inaugurated the second phase of the "Umbral (Sill) Program," which supports the fight against corruption, smuggling and other related crimes in Paraguay.