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Important news from EUAA and the world of COI

Our approach to COI news

The News section aims to inform users about recent COI publications or upcoming workshops/conferences. EUAA selects information provided in the News section according to its relevance to the COI and asylum fields. EUAA welcomes suggestions to insert a particular news (event, publication).

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01 July 2026

Venezuela: New EUAA report highlights a fluctuating political situation

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has published today its latest Country of Origin Information (COI) report on Venezuela, which updates the previous edition published in 2023. The report notably provides information on political and socioeconomic developments following the US intervention in early January 2026. It is intended to support EU+ asylum authorities in making well-informed decisions on asylum applications lodged by Venezuelan nationals in the EU+.

Following the 2024 presidential elections, which were marked by significant irregularities and whose results were not recognised by the opposition and several countries, nationwide protests erupted, leading to over 2 000 detentions and 24 deaths. Edmundo González Urrutia, who was recognised as the legitimate winner of the elections by several governments and international bodies, as well as the European Parliament, left for Spain in September 2024, while opposition leader Maria Corina Machado spent most of her time in hiding until December 2025, when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Following President Maduro's capture by the US Government, Vice‑President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in by the National Assembly as 'interim president'. She has since implemented a series of changes across the executive, the military, and the economic sector, as well as limited steps on transparency and an amnesty law, which led to the release of a number of prisoners. No elections have been scheduled, however. The US have also eased economic restrictions by allowing US companies to conduct business with the State-owned oil and gas company. Venezuelan and foreign investors are returning to the country, particularly in the oil industry and infrastructure.

Despite these changes, the repressive State apparatus remains intact, and patterns of repression, institutional mistrust, and judicial opacity continue to persist. Further, a wide range of criminal actors continue to operate in Venezuela including Colombian criminal organisations, domestic structures such as megabandas, pranes, colectivos, and numerous regional or local gangs. An estimated 7.9 million Venezuelans were displaced abroad as of November 2025, most of them in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil as a result of the instability in the country.

EU Asylum situation for Venezuelan nationals

Between October 2023 and January 2026, Venezuelans lodged close to 190 000 asylum applications in the EU+, making Venezuela the third most-populous country of origin. Applications rose from just over 5 000 in October 2023 to around 8 300 in October 2025. Since November 2025, however, applications have been trending downwards. Between October 2023 and January 2026, over 90% of applications were lodged in Spain (173 000), followed at a distance by Germany (6 100) and France (4 900). Almost all of them were first-time applications.

The EU+ recognition rate for Venezuelans was very low, at less than 3 %. However, Spain which issued the vast majority of decisions to Venezuelans at first instance, granted national forms of protection in almost all cases. These are not reflected in the recognition rate, as , under the Qualification Regulation, these were considered negative decisions.

Finally, 121 000 applications by Venezuelans were pending a first instance decision by the end of January 2026. Venezuelans accounted for more than half of all pending cases in Spain.

Background

The EUAA regularly updates its Country of Origin Information reports, which aim to provide accurate and reliable up-to-date information on third countries to support EU+ national asylum and migration authorities in reaching accurate and fair decisions in asylum procedures, as well as to support national policymaking.

Any further information may be obtained from the European Union Agency for Asylum's Press Office at the following email addresses:

 


  • Venezuela

29 May 2026

Somalia: New reports highlight a still fractured and highly volatile security situation, while Mogadishu’s IDPs population is exposed to polarising evictions, along with other issues

The EUAA has published a Country of Origin Information (COI) report on the security situation in Somalia and a COI report on displacement in Mogadishu. The security situation report provides a comprehensive overview of the country's highly volatile and regionally fractured political settlement, while the thematic report on displacement in Mogadishu focuses on the predicament of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the country's capital.

The report on the security situation provides an overview of the renewed cycle of political violence experienced by the country in the period 1 April 2025 - 30 March 2026. It examines the security situation at both country and regional level, while highlighting conflict trends and dynamics. Compared to the preceding three years, in the period April 2025 – March 2026, Somalia saw a peak number of fatalities and security events. While the Al-Shabaab – Anti-Al-Shabaab conflict, in the south-central part of the country, continued to absorb most of the registered political violence events (62 %), the fight against the Islamic State in Somalia, in the north of the country (Puntland), accounted for another 15 %, and clan rivalries, more spread out across the country, for another 11 %.

At the same time, with over 1.1 million internally displaced people, Mogadishu continued to represent the biggest displacement hub in the entire Somalia, but also the site of most evictions taking place at country level, over 150 000 in the sole 2025. The COI report on displacement in Mogadishu provides a detailed overview of IDP camps life and management, including access to basic rights, while it also addresses the situation of people affected by widespread evictions. The report finds that displacement issues intersect with marginalisation, minority, and gender issues and help explain the predicament of minority clans, minority groups, and racialised minorities, which represent the vast majority of IDPs. This same population segment is overrepresented in Mogadishu's prison establishments, whose conditions are thoroughly investigated, and struggles to access ID documents, which are crucial to integrate in the local context.  

EU asylum situation for Somali nationals

Between April 2025 and March 2026, Somalis lodged 21,000 asylum applications in the EU+, slightly more than the previous 12-month period. Overall, more than one fifth of Somali applications were lodged in Germany (4 500), followed by France (3 800), Ireland (2 300) and Switzerland (2 100). The recognition rate for Somali applicants fluctuated around 50%. At the end of March 2026, close to 13 000 Somali applications were awaiting a decision at first instance, a fifth less compared to April 2025 and the lowest number since August 2021.

Background

The EUAA regularly updates its Country of Origin Information reports, which aim to provide accurate and reliable up-to-date information on third countries to support EU+ asylum and migration authorities in reaching accurate and fair decisions in asylum procedures, as well as to support national policymaking.

Any further information may be obtained from the European Union Agency for Asylum's Press Office at the following email addresses:


  • Somalia

26 May 2026

Pakistan: EUAA COI report highlights human rights violations

The EUAA has just published a new Country of Origin Information (COI) report on Pakistan. The report highlights an increasingly volatile security situation in Pakistan, exacerbated by economic turmoil and political instability, with the country ranked as the most terrorism-affected in 2025.

While the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N), in coalition with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and smaller allies, remained in power and strengthened its parliamentary position through November 2025 by-elections, the political opposition led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remained constrained by arrests, legal proceedings, and disqualifications. Meanwhile, violence increased in scale and lethality in 2024–2025, with militancy identified as the main driver of insecurity amid intensified state responses. The violence was largely concentrated in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which accounted for most incidents and fatalities.

Enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and restrictions on civic space in Pakistan continued, with allegations of legal action and arrests affecting political activists, journalists, and opposition figures. The space for dissent was described as shrinking amid the deployment of security and anti-terrorism laws. Incidents of discrimination and violence against ethnic and religious minorities were also reported. Additional concerns were reported regarding women and children, as well as LGBTIQ+ persons, who faced alleged violence, discrimination, and limited access to services. 

EU Asylum situation for Pakistani nationals

Between November 2024 and March 2026, Pakistani nationals lodged 27 000 applications for international protection in the EU+. In 2025, applications (19 000) decreased by almost a fifth compared to the previous year, reaching the lowest number since 2020. In the first three months of 2026, applications (4 400) continued to decrease, representing a year-on-year decrease of around a fifth. 

In the 17 months up to March 2026, more than half of the applications were lodged in Italy, the main EU+ country of destination for Pakistani applicants since 2017, followed by Greece and France. The recognition rate for Pakistani applicants was 12 %. At the end of March 2026, nearly 30 000 Pakistani applications were awaiting a decision at first instance, representing a slight decrease compared to the beginning of 2025 (34 000), when pending cases had reached their highest level since 2016. 

Background

​The EUAA regularly produces and updates Country of Origin Information reports, which aim to provide accurate and reliable up-to-date information on third countries to support EU+ national asylum authorities in examining applications for international protection in Europe.

Any further information may be obtained from the European Union Agency for Asylum's Press Office at the following email addresses:




  • Pakistan

12 May 2026

Belarus: New report highlights deteriorating human rights situation

​

The EUAA has published a Country of Origin Information (COI) report on political opposition and dissent in Belarus. It provides a comprehensive overview of the country's increasingly restrictive political landscape following the 2025 presidential elections, and the lasting impact of the 2020 protests.

Covering the period between 1 January 2025 and 1 April 2026, the report gives a detailed overview of the current human rights situation in Belarus. It highlights restrictions on freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly and association, and examines the situation of political opponents, protesters, journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers, political prisoners, and their relatives, as well as LGBTIQ+ persons and activists.

The country's political system and governance is characterised by the authoritarian power of President Lukashenka, who, following the January 2025 elections, claimed a seventh consecutive term in office. The authorities have continued a systematic campaign of repression against those involved in the 2020 protests, with thousands of people convicted on politically motivated charges or forced into exile. Legislation has been widely used to criminalise dissent. Individuals have been subjected to prosecution for expressing critique of the authorities, supporting Ukraine, or associating with organisations deemed extremist.

The judiciary functions as a tool of political repression, with proceedings conducted in absentia and trials held behind closed doors. Law enforcement agencies carry out large-scale surveillance over the population and the Belarusian diaspora abroad. Belarusians returning to the country are subjected to systematic phone searches and interrogations at border crossing points. The authorities have also extended repression to the family members of activists and political prisoners through raids, interrogations, and the confiscation of property.

EU asylum situation for Belarusian nationals

In 2025, Belarusians lodged 3 800 asylum applications in the EU+, a decrease of a quarter compared to 2024. So far, this declining trend has persisted in January and February 2026, with Belarusians lodging 450 applications, almost 40% less than in the same period the previous year. Between January 2025 and February 2026, over three quarters of Belarusian applications were lodged in Poland.

In the same period, around 3 200 first instance decisions were issued, with a recognition rate of 71%. Notably, over three quarters of positive outcomes granted subsidiary protection. At the end of February 2026, close to 4 000 Belarusian applications were awaiting a decision at first instance, with the majority pending in Poland.

Background

The EUAA regularly updates its Country of Origin Information reports, which aim to provide accurate and reliable up-to-date information on third countries to support EU+ asylum and migration authorities in reaching accurate and fair decisions in asylum procedures, as well as to support national policymaking.

Any further information may be obtained from the European Union Agency for Asylum's Press Office at the following email addresses:


  • Belarus

23 January 2026

Afghanistan: Taliban consolidate theocratic State while the humanitarian crisis deepens, EUAA report finds


The EUAA has just published its latest Country of Origin Information (COI) report on Afghanistan. It provides updated information on the political context and human rights situation in the country, the general security situation as well as the treatment of selected profiles. It comes as Afghans were the top citizenship seeking international protection in the EU+, between January 2024 and November 2025.

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has just published its latest Country of Origin Information report, “Afghanistan: Country Focus”, which provides an overview of the situation in the country under the rule of the Taliban de facto government. Since their take-over of the country in 2021, the authorities have progressively moved towards a theocratic police state, enforcing a strict interpretation of Islamic law (Sharia) that heavily restricts personal rights and freedoms.

The Afghan population is subject to numerous obligations, including adhering to strict dress codes, attending congregational prayer, and abstaining from music. Women and girls continue to be particularly affected, facing restrictions on their access to education, employment, health and justice, as well as in freedom of movement and freedom of expression. In addition, the de facto authorities have heavily restricted civic space and become increasingly intolerant of criticism. Indeed, the situation is such that even individuals considered loyalists generally refrain from publicly commenting on governance issues. The EUAA report provides detailed information on how these restrictions are now being enforced; despite some remaining regional differences, they are increasingly uniform across the country.​

At the same time, with the Taliban takeover in August 2021 having all but ended their insurgency, millions of Afghans have, for the most part, been returned from Iran and Pakistan. In fact, around 2.7 million people were reportedly returned in 2025 alone, mainly driven by the intensified repatriation efforts of these neighbouring countries’ governments, including through large numbers of coerced and forced returns.

This significant influx has put an additional strain on an already precarious humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, with limited resources available to address poverty, food insecurity, and provide essential healthcare and basic services; and to deal with the impact of recurring climate-related shocks. These difficulties have been further compounded by a series of global aid cuts by various governments and multilateral organisations.​

EU Asylum situation for Afghan nationals​

​Afghans were the top nationality applying for international protection in the EU+ between January 2024 and November 2025, with a total of 196 000 asylum applications lodged. This high volume of applications, particularly in 2025, was mostly due to a surge in repeated Afghan applications in Germany (35 000, since June 2025) and, to a far lesser extent, Austria (2 900, since October 2024). Germany remained the main destination country, with close to half of all Afghan applications being lodged there. It was followed by Greece, France and Switzerland, that together accounted for over a third of the total.

Between January 2024 and November 2025, Afghan asylum applicants were issued close to 217 000 first instance decisions in EU+ countries, with more than half of them in Germany. The first instance recognition rate stood at 65 %, the highest on record, as more (positive) decisions were issued on repeated applications, following the Court’s ruling. By the end of November 2025, around 47 000 Afghan cases were pending at first instance in the EU+.

Background


The EUAA regularly updates its Country of Origin Information​ reports, which aim to provide accurate and reliable up-to-date information on third countries to support EU+ national asylum and migration authorities involved in migration and international protection procedures.​

  • Afghanistan