Addressing statelessness in Europe’s refugee response
CONTENTS
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................... 1
Overview of the challenges ................................................................................................................ 3
Registration ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Refugee Status Determination ............................................................................................................... 3
Detention................................................................................................................................................... 4
The child’s right to nationality ................................................................................................................ 4
Routes to naturalisation .......................................................................................................................... 4
Stateless refugees ................................................................................................................................ 5
Profile of interviewees ............................................................................................................................. 5
Identification and registration................................................................................................................ 5
The impact of being stateless and a refugee ....................................................................................... 7
Relationships with other stakeholders ................................................................................................. 8
Civil society actors ............................................................................................................................. 10
Knowledge of statelessness and nationality issues .......................................................................... 10
Insights into the impact of statelessness ........................................................................................... 10
Key challenges and opportunities ....................................................................................................... 11
National authorities .......................................................................................................................... 12
Knowledge of statelessness and nationality issues .......................................................................... 12
Lack of procedural clarity ...................................................................................................................... 13
Access to information and resources ................................................................................................. 14
Regional actors ................................................................................................................................... 15
Knowledge of statelessness and nationality issues .......................................................................... 15
Key challenges and opportunities ....................................................................................................... 16
Conclusion and recommendations .................................................................................................. 17
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... 20
Annex I – Interviewees ...................................................................................................................... 21
Cover photo: Greece. Accommodation scheme transfers Palestinian-Syrian family from residential
container to Athens apartment; © UNHCR/Alfredo D'Amato