5. CONCLUSIONS AND KEY ACTIONS This briefing provides an overview of current law, policy, and practice on statelessness determination and protection of stateless people in Europe. It explains the rationale and importance of establishing dedicated statelessness determination procedures (SDPs) to comply with international law and good practice. Drawing on data from the Statelessness Index, the briefing highlights good practice examples and challenges in different countries, as well as some of the risks that arise when procedures and the protection available to stateless migrants and refugees fall short of international standards. Key action areas There are four key areas where urgent action is needed by Governments, legislators, and decision-makers to ensure that stateless migrants and refugees in Europe can access the rights and protection they are due under international law and resolve their statelessness. Introduce fair and accessible SDPs in line with norms and good practice 1 • Put in place measures to ensure equal access to SDPs regardless of residence or documentation status, language, gender, ability, age, or any other aspect of identity or circumstances. • Introduce adequate procedural safeguards including the right to an interview, shared burden of proof, standard of proof in line with asylum procedures, access to legal aid, and statutory right to an independent appeal. • Introduce specific measures to guarantee substantive equality in SDPs for women, children, people with disabilities, and other groups at risk of (multiple) discrimination, such as flexibility in evidential requirements, specialist training for interviewers and interpreters, consideration of the best interests of the child, etc. • Grant applicants for statelessness status a temporary right to stay as well as the right to work, healthcare, accommodation, education, basic social security, and protection from detention and expulsion while their application is being processed. Ensure that SDPs lead to a dedicated protection status for people recognised as stateless 2 • Grant a renewable residence permit to people determined to be stateless that is valid for at least two years and preferably five years.