THEMATIC BRIEFING: October 2025 Statelessness determination and protection in Europe: good practice, challenges and risks 3. Statelessness determination and protection in Europe While the vast majority of countries in the Statelessness Index have acceded to the 1954 Convention, only 18 countries have any procedure to determine statelessness, i.e. where determination of statelessness is the objective of the procedure.16 However, the outcome of procedures varies and not all countries automatically grant protection to those determined to be stateless, so only 14 can be considered to have fully functioning statelessness determination procedures (SDPs). RECOMMENDED Best practice • • State identifies stateless people within its jurisdiction to provide them appropriate treatment to comply with its 1954 Convention obligations. State has established a statelessness determination procedure in law, leading to a dedicated statelessness status. SDP leading to protection Procedure to determine statelessness, no dedicated protection No procedure to determine statelessness Ongoing discussions to introduce SDP No data in the Index France, Georgia, and Moldova are among the countries assessed most positively on this theme in the Statelessness Index, as they have SDPs, which are formalised in law, operational in practice, and lead to a dedicated statelessness status. Many procedural safeguards are in line with best practice, and determination of statelessness automatically results in a renewable residence permit with economic and social rights. Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Montenegro, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom also have SDPs leading to a statelessness status but are assessed less positively due to shortcomings in their procedures or in the protection status granted. For example, in Bulgaria, Montenegro, 5