Australia inks aid deal with EU

Australia and the European Union will administer aid on each other's behalf in South Sudan and Fiji after inking a new co-operation agreement.

Australia will spend $2.5 million over three years on an EU food security program to help the South Sudan government improve the use of food, livestock and nutrition information.

The EU will then pump $5.9 million over three years to help up to 1500 Fijians affected by changes to its sugar industry to train and gain employment through the Australian-Pacific Technical College.

It's the first time the EU has entered into an agreement of this kind with a non-European donor, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement on Thursday.