![icon presenting country of origin information](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_column/public/2022-06/ar-2022-412-coi.png?itok=poF9Li48)
Section 4.12. Country of origin information
Country of origin information (COI) refers to up-to-date, reliable information on countries of origin, habitual residence, and transit or return countries which is used to assess an application for international protection.
The recast QD, Article 4(3a) specifies that the assessment of an application for international protection must take account of all relevant facts about the applicant’s country of origin. Along the same lines, the recast APD, Article 10(3b) stipulates that precise and timely information on the general situation in countries of origin of applicants and, where necessary, in countries through which they have transited is to be obtained from various sources, such as the EUAA, UNHCR, the Council of Europe and other relevant international organisations.
Key developments in the production of COI in 2022 centred around improving methodologies, investing in new technologies and researchers, improving collaboration with other researchers based in Europe (for example in national COI Units and civil society organisations working in the country of origin), and producing information rapidly to address new crisis situations.