BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is working on a new scheme to resettle at least 50,000 refugees and hopes it will help more asylum seekers from Northern Africa find new homes in Europe.

The European Commission says it has set aside 500 million euros ($587 million) for the effort. It wants refugees in Libya, Egypt, Niger, Sudan, Chad and Ethiopia to be the focus.

The commission said Wednesday that it also wants to set up pilot projects to help create more legal ways for migrants to come from those countries that are cooperating with the EU.

The move is part of the EU's effort to cope with hundreds of thousands of refugees and unauthorized migrants who have tried to enter Europe in recent years. The resettlement plan is non-binding.