(TEGUCIGALPA) - Honduras, among the poorest nations of Latin America, will get 314 million dollars (223 million euros) in aid from the European Union for 2007-2013, EU officials said on Wednesday.

"With these figures, Honduras will be second in the list of beneficiaries of development aid from the European Commission in Latin America and foremost in Central America," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told reporters.

On Tuesday in San Salvador, Ferrero-Waldner announced a 170 million dollar (121 million euro) aid package for El Salvador to stem youth violence, help small business development and improve the diet, health care and education of Salvadorans.

The aid programs come three weeks after the start of negotiations between the EU and five Central American neighbors -- El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica -- on an association agreement including a free trade pact.

The EU official said Honduras's aid package includes 156 million dollars (111 million euros) to fight poverty, 96 million (68 million euros) for reforestation programs and 62 million (44 million euros) to boost public safety.

Ferrero-Waldner arrived in Tegucigalpa on Tuesday. She began her tour of Central America on Monday in Panama and will travel later Wednesday to Nicaragua.

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