INTRODUCTION
Last update: February 2023

The country guidance documents provide country-specific common analysis and guidance in relation to the assessment criteria established in the recast Qualification Directive (Directive 2011/95/EU) 1. They are developed by the EUAA together with a network of senior-level policy officials from EU+ countries and represent their joint assessment of the situation in main countries of origin, in accordance with current EU legislation and jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

The aim of the country guidance documents is to assist decision-makers and policy-makers in their daily work and to foster convergence in the assessment of applications for international protection and the type of protection granted in the context of the common European asylum system.

The development, review and update of country guidance is regulated under Article 11 of the EUAA Regulation. 2

This common analysis is based on country of origin information (COI) with a clearly indicated reference period. Each section of the country guidance documents also clearly states the timing of its last update.

The analysis and guidance within this document should be considered valid as long as current events and developments in the country fall within the trends and patterns described within the COI on which the assessment at hand is based on.

The analysis and guidance provided within this document are not exhaustive.

Common analysis, guidance note and methodological approach

The country guidance document consists of two important components: the guidance note and the common analysis. These two parts focus on the situation in the country of origin and provide analysis and guidance on the assessment of relevant international protection needs. They should be read in conjunction with the separate document ‘Country Guidance: explained’.

 Scope of this update

The current version of the guidance updates and replaces the ‘Country Guidance: Syria’ (November 2021).

This update mainly focuses on the situation of returnees under the ‘2. The implications of leaving Syria’ section, the potential refugee status protection needs under profiles related to the military service, the section on Article 15(c) QD under the subsidiary protection chapter, as well as the internal protection alternative chapter.

This update is based on the following recent COI:

Security 2022

EUAA COI report:
'Syria: security situation'
(September 2022)

Targeting 2022

EUAA COI report:
'Syria: Targeting of individuals'
(September 2022)

Damascus 2022

EUAA COI report:
'Syria: Socio-economic situation
in Damascus city'
(August 2022)

COI Update 2022

EUAA COI Query response - Syria:
'Major human rights, security
and humanitarian developments' 
(November 2022)

Other reports used as a basis for the analysis in this document include: 

• COI Report: Syria - Security situation (July 2021) [EN]
• COI Report: Syria - Situation of returnees from abroad (June 2021) [EN]
• COI Report: Syria - Socio-economic situation: Damascus city (April 2021) [EN]
• COI Report: Syria - Military service (April 2021) [EN]
• COI Report: Syria - Security situation (May 2020) [EN]
• COI Report: Syria - Internally displaced persons, returnees and internal mobility (April 2020) [EN]
• COI Report: Syria - Targeting of individuals (March 2020) [EN]
• COI Report: Syria - Situation of women (February 2020) [EN]
• COI Report: Syria - Socio-economic situation: Damascus City (February 2020) [EN]
• COI Report: Syria - Exercise of authority in recaptured areas (January 2020) [EN]
• COI Report: Syria - Actors (December 2019) [EN]

Annex II. Country of origin information references provides further details on all COI reports used as a basis for the analysis within this document. References and links within this document are to the respective sections of these COI reports.