Brussels, 04/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 4 April, EU member states committed themselves to helping the southern countries, in particular Malta, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Spain, which are faced with wave after wave of illegal immigrants arriving from Northern Africa. “The concerns of the Mediterranean countries were really taken seriously,” said Czech Home Affairs Minister Martin Pecina. He said that a number of guidelines would direct EU action over the coming weeks: building up of Frontex, increasing the rights of asylum seekers and the possible launch of a pilot programme in Malta. This project will seek to share those who are eligible for international protection among all member states, following the example of France which will shortly take in 80 refugees from Malta. Commissioner Jacques Barrot will be responsible for presenting a proposal on this to the Council. Barrot has yet to say whether the EU should contact the UNHCR so that reception centres for asylum seekers could be set up in the North African countries. He said, too, that he would travel to Libya with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres and the Swedish Presidency. He intends to hold negotiations with Tripoli to get it to respect in international asylum obligations. He wanted the European Coucnil of 18-19 June to allow the Commission to move forward on these matters. (B.C./transl.rt)