(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS - The growth in unemployment in the EU countries bordering the Mediterranean shows no sign of stopping. In May, unemployment reached 9.5% in the euro zone, compared to 9.3% in April, while it was 8.9% in the 27 European Union member countries, compared with 8.7% in April. The figures were issued by Eurostat, the European statistical office, which said that May's unemployment rate is the highest in the Euro zone since May 1999 and in the 27 EU countries since June 2005. Spain is in the biggest trouble among the Mediterranean countries, with a rate of 18.7%, the highest in the EU, compared to 18% in April and 10.5% in May 2008. France follows Spain, with unemployment at 9.3%, compared to 9.1% in April and 7.6% in May 2008. Portugal was stable between April and May with 9.3%, with May 2008's figure at 7.6%. The situation is worse in Malta, which went from 7% in April to 7.1%, compared to 6% in May 2008. Unemployment in Italy in the first quarter of the year was 7.4%, compared with 6.8% in May 2008. Figures for Greece in the first quarter of 2009 were also available, at 8.7% compared to 7.5% in May 2008. Not even Slovenia is spared the growth in unemployment, with the rate going from 5.7% in April to 5.9% in May, compared to 4.4% in May 2008. Cyprus is also up, from 5.1% in April to 5.3% in May, compared with 3.5% in May 2008. (ANSAmed).