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.953  COI reports can address various topics in a specific country, for example the socio-economic, legal, political, human rights and humanitarian situation at a given time.

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.