Luxembourg, 05/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Italy, followed by a number of other Member States, adopted a statement at Thursday's JHA Council, in which they declare themselves in favour of the adoption of a list of "safe" countries. Asylum applications entered by nationals of these countries would be judged "manifestly unfounded", and subjected to accelerated examination. These countries asked the Commission to propose a list, to be included in the proposed directive on the procedure for examining asylum applications, during the discussion at Council (EUROPE of 4 June p.11 and 12). During the Council, only Sweden took the floor to oppose this initiative, indicates a European source.