BRUSSELS — The European Union unveiled a new plan Wednesday to resettle at least 50,000 refugees, the majority of them from northern Africa.

The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, said it has set aside $587 million for the effort. It wants refugees in Libya, Egypt, Niger, Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia to be the focus.

Libya is the main jumping-off point for many people willing to brave potentially perilous sea voyages across the Mediterranean in search of better lives in Europe. Egypt, Sudan, Chad, and Niger — one of the main migrant transit countries in Africa — all border Libya.

Most of the migrants crossing the Mediterranean probably would not qualify for asylum in Europe, but the EU wants to make sure that genuine refugees do not have to face the sea crossing.

European countries are individually responsible for deciding on resettlement numbers so they cannot be legally bound by Brussels to take more people in.

The commission also wants to set up pilot projects to help create more legal ways for nationals of countries that are cooperating with the EU to come to Europe.

associated press