An assessment of Syrian migration to Europe via the Western Mediterranean route including analysis of different the migration routes, intentions and protection concerns.

In 2017, Spain has seen a new surge in arrivals of refugees and other migrants to its shores. As of 31 October, the country recorded 21,304 irregular entries, twice as many as the same period in 2016. With this increase, the profile of arrivals has changed, as increasingly people from the Middle East – the majority of whom are Syrians – travel to Spain.

Though the Western Mediterranean route is now being considered as a new entry point into Europe, the evidence base for such claims remains limited. Little is known about the Syrians who migrate to Spain in particular. In this study, REACH, in the framework of the Mixed Migration Platform (MMP), seeks to increase understanding of the routes Syrians have taken to Spain between 2015 and 2017, why they chose these routes, and why they choose Spain as their entry point to Europe. Additionally, the study seeks to examine protection concerns of Syrians along the route to Spain in Algeria and Morocco, and to shed light on the future intentions of Syrians once they reach Spain.