The European Union has said member states can proceed individually over whether to suspend asylum applications for Syrians, but governments have failed to coordinate their policies -- marking a division between those who announced a suspension in the processing of asylum requests for Syrian citizens and those who have failed to do so, for now.

Europe's leading human rights organization, the Council of Europe, has thus warned that, "given the situation, the hasty repatriation of refugees coming from Syria must be avoided."

"In the wake of the developments in Syria and the fall of the Assad regime, several Council of Europe member states have suspended the processing of asylum claims of Syrians and announced plans to forcibly return Syrians currently under their protection. These developments raise urgent questions about whether states are acting in accordance with international refugee and human rights obligations, particularly the principle of non-refoulement," warned Michael O'Flaherty, the Council's Commissioner for Human Rights, on December 11.

"Under the principle of non-refoulement, no individual should be sent back to a situation where they face a real risk of harm. On this basis, the rapidly changing conditions on the ground in Syria demand careful, evidence-based decisions", O'Flaherty noted.

Read AlsoNew EU migration policies expected to get even tougher in 2025

Syria to be discussed at EU summit on December 19

The EU's executive also urged its 27 members to "respect" European legislation, recalling that it is always necessary to examine "individual cases" when someone lodges an asylum claim.

Member states, stressed a council spokesperson, however have the right to postpone the processing of asylum requests if "the situation on the ground changes", reportedly for up to 21 months.

"The Commission is constantly monitoring security in Syria: the situation is rapidly evolving" and is "very volatile, events are continuing to take place under extremely fluid circumstances," the spokesperson also said.

Syria was discussed by interior ministers gathered at the Council in Brussels on Wednesday, it was also a topic for the Foreign Affairs Council and it will be on the agenda of leaders at next week's EU summit.

"I spoke with King Abdullah of Jordan and with Israeli President Isaac Herzog about the quick evolution of the situation in Syria and I discussed the implications of the fall of Assad's regime for all Syrians and, in general, for the stability of the region", said the president of the Council of Europe, Antonio Costa.

"I remain in close contact with the leaders of the Middle East to evaluate the situation: the respect of human rights, the safeguard of minorities and the territorial integrity of the country are key for the EU and Syria, and will be the theme of the December 19 summit," he added.

Read AlsoConcerns over 'safety of migrants in Tunisia' expressed in new report commissioned by UN

Kallas warns of necessity 'to act with Middle Eastern partners'

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, during an emergency hearing of the European Parliament's foreign affairs commission, insisted on the need to safeguard minorities too.

"We don't want new waves of refugees from different groups coming from Syria: it in the interest of all countries of the region, as well as of the EU," she stated.

The former Estonian premier highlighted the importance, in this phase, of acting together with "Middle Eastern partners" to launch a common message to the "new actors" present in Syria.

"The EU goes nowhere alone", she commented. "This transition presents huge challenges and there are legitimate concerns over the risks of sectarian violence, extremist insurgencies and power vacuums that must be avoided: it is necessary to prevent the repetition of the horrible scenarios of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan," she stressed.