MEXICO CITY, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) will contribute 7 million euros (7.9 million U.S. dollars) to Mexico's development plan to curb migration, the Mexican Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
The bloc is expected to get more involved in the Comprehensive Development Program for Central America promoted by Mexico, said Klaus Rudischhauser, head of the EU delegation to Mexico, adding that the money is a short-term contribution.
The plan, developed with the help of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, aims to boost investment in southern Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, as a way to mitigate poverty and insecurity that prompt some of the migration.
The Mexican Foreign Ministry's Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean Maximiliano Reyes thanked the EU for its contribution.
Mexico, the EU and the three Central American countries will soon begin technical work to implement the program, according to a statement by the Mexican Foreign Ministry.
"We are happy to begin a very specific cooperation with the Mexican authorities and the authorities of the three Central American countries, and we hope that there will be a coordination mechanism," Rudischhauser said.
Mexico saw a record number of migrants cross its territory with an eye on entering the United States in May.
