5.
These international events provided an opportunity for over 130 experts to exchange
views on how to successfully contribute to ending statelessness in Europe and guarantee the
fundamental rights set out in relevant international and regional treaties. These events involved
senior representatives of governments of member states, national authorities with specific
expertise in nationality and statelessness issues, judges, representatives of international and
regional organisations, civil society organisations and academics. Several stateless individuals
participated alongside experts and presented their own messages and thoughts on the issues
under discussion, which are included in this report5 and made available in video format on the
conference’s webpage.6
TECHNICAL MEETING OF EXPERTS
23 September 2021
6.
The meeting was opened by Mr Joao Arsenio de Oliveira, Chair of the European
Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) of the Council of Europe, and Mr Andreas Wissner
UNHCR Representative to the European Institutions in Strasbourg, who welcomed the
participants and invited them to exchange information, experiences and views on how
statelessness could be addressed in Europe. Participants were invited in particular to:
▪ Discuss current trends, outstanding gaps, share challenges and practical difficulties,
good practices in addressing common challenges with respect to the:
(i) Identification of stateless persons and guaranteeing that their rights and
protection needs are upheld;
(ii) Prevention and reduction of statelessness in Europe, including the possible
consequences of childhood statelessness.
▪ Identify areas where member states can benefit from targeted technical support to
develop and implement appropriate responses to statelessness;
▪ Identify concrete follow-up actions by member states and by the Council of Europe
and UNHCR, and where appropriate, provide further suggestions for follow-up.
SESSION 1 – IDENTIFYING AND PROTECTING STATELESS PERSONS IN EUROPE
7.
The identification and protection of stateless persons constitute together the
international statelessness protection regime and are parts of the main goals of the global
policy on statelessness.7 This first session aimed to discuss the benefit of establishing and
5
This report was prepared with input from Prof. Dr Gerard-René de Groot, General Rapporteur of the
events, and Ms Nina Murray (ENS) acting as Session rapporteur.
6 See the Event’s webpage.
7 See, for example, UNHCR, Conclusion on Identification, Prevention and Reduction of Statelessness
and Protection of Stateless Persons, No. 106 (LVII), (6 October 2006); and General Assembly
Resolution No. A/RES/50/152 of 9 February 1996.
8