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The European Union (EU) member states have contributed over 500 million euros in response to the Ebola disease outbreak in affected countries. The EU said it was working closely with Ghana and other countries that were not affected by the disease to increase support to be well prepared and tested to handle the threat of the disease. Ambassador William Hanna, Head of European Union to Ghana, said this at a press briefing in Accra. The EU, since 2004, had provided more than 1.1 billion euros through the African Peace Facility to prevent conflict and promote peace in Darfur, Somalia, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. The EU has also granted 50 million euros to support the African-led International Support Mission to Mali through the African Peace Facility, to support the African Union and regional African organisations in carrying out peace-keeping operations such as AMISOM in Somalia and MICOPAX in the Central African Republic. Mr Hanna said the ECOWAS Heads of state had endorsed the Economic Partnership Agreement at their Summit in Accra on July 10 and had decided to sign and implement the agreement very soon. He said the agreement would be a great step forward which would bring growth, prosperity and jobs for the country. Mr Hanna said the Union would institute measures to preserve and improve the environment and sustainable management of natural resources including fisheries. He said the EU had developed a good relationship with Ghana over the years and that eight member states were currently in the country for bilateral development assistance programmes. He said the EU was a major partner of the country through trade, foreign direct investment, provider of development assistance and biggest source of remittances from Ghanaians living abroad. Mr Hanna said through the EU-Ghana partnership, the Union sought to promote peace and security in the region, develop trade and investment and support sustainable economic and social development.