ADDIS ABABA, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The European Union pledged 300 million euros ($383.3 million) to the African Union on Monday to fund peacekeeping missions on the world's poorest continent.

"It will include an early response mechanism, which will strengthen the flexibility and rapidity of the Africa Peace Facility (APF) response," both sides said in a statement.

"It will provide substantial, predictable funding for Africa-led peace support operations," they said.

The deal was signed on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Ethiopia. This APF covers 2008-2010, and follows an earlier donation of 440 million Euros from the EU.

The AU runs various peacekeeping operations on the continent, including in Somalia, Sudan and Central African Republic. (Reporting by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Jon Boyle)

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