21/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 21 September, the Commissioner for Immigration, Jacques Barrot, announced that the pilot project to receive refugees currently present in Malta "was benefiting progressively" from further offers of help from Member States. However, if judged by the situation of promises currently made by the 27, the Commission's initiative is struggling to make progress. In July, France received 96 refugees and is prepared repeat the experience for a similar number of people. Other countries, such as Slovakia and Portugal, and also said that they are prepared to make a gesture. During a lunch held on the occasion of the Council of Home Affairs Ministers, other Member States said they were prepared to take part: Hungary, Luxembourg and Slovenia. For the time being, this will help to accommodate just over 100 refugees, whereas the total number of people to be resettled in this way this year has been estimated at 2000. The Commission, which is still awaiting responses from other large Member States, hopes that the offers will be made by the next JHA Council on 23 October. (B.C./trans.fl)