Publication date: 05 January 2026
This ad hoc query maps the status of recognition of Palestine as a sovereign State across EMN Member Countries and the resulting administrative practices regarding statelessness and citizenship for individuals originating from the Palestinian territories.
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Main theme: Statelessness, Citizenship & Nationality
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: Palestine, State, statehood, recognition, citizenship, stateless persons
Publication date: 23 October 2025
This ad hoc query maps the issuance of travel documents for individuals recognised as stateless across EMN Member and Observer Countries. Information is provided on the type and validity of such documents, as well as on whether recognition as stateless automatically leads to the issuance of a residence permit.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: stateless persons, travel document, document validity
Publication date: 22 July 2025
The European Pact on Asylum and Migration, adopted in May 2024, introduces binding obligations for EU Member States, including Belgium, on the identification and protection of stateless persons. The Nansen report highlights the specific challenges faced by stateless persons in Belgium and offers key recommendations to ensure their effective access to international protection.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, stateless persons
Publication date: 20 November 2023
Under the endorsement of the EMN Platform on Statelessness, this ad hoc query explores the legal framework and practice of EMN Member Countries to prevent stateless persons from receiving social and healthcare benefits in multiple countries simultaneously.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: stateless persons, statelessness, social benefits, healthcare, social security
Publication date: 26 April 2023
This EMN Inform updates the 2020 Inform “Statelessness in the EU” and focuses on the implications of statelessness for affected individuals in the EU, Norway and Georgia.
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Publication date: 29 January 2020
In de Europese Unie zijn naar schatting 400.000 mensen erkend staatloos of hebben geen vastgestelde nationaliteit (UNHCR, 2018). In 2017 waren er niet minder dan 2.100 staatloze kinderen in Europa geregistreerd. Dit is een verviervoudiging t.o.v. 2010. Hoe stellen EU-lidstaten staatloosheid vast? Wat betekent deze erkenning in de praktijk voor staatloze migranten? Op deze en andere vragen over staatloosheid vindt u een antwoord in deze Inform.
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Publication date: 17 November 2017
This progress report describes the activities undertaken and publications released by the EMN Platform on Statelessness, in cooperation with strategic partners, from May 2016 until November 2017.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Publication Type: EMN Reports & Studies
Publication date: 30 June 2017
UNHCR developed a practical tool called "Stateless Persons in Detention: A tool for their identification and enhanced protection". The purpose of the instrument is to facilitate identification o persons in the context of detention who may be stateless and to support the achievement of solutions to their predicament.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Publication Type: Study
Keywords: statelessness, identification, detention
Publication date: 28 February 2017
The handbook highlights the complex implications of statelessness for individuals, states and societies, with good practices and recommendations aiming to increase engagement and progress in addressing this phenomenon by OSCE participating States.
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Publication date: 01 January 2017
This report of the ‘Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion’ (ISI) explores the urgency of and opportunities for addressing childhood statelessness. Over 50 experts and organizations have contributed material – essays, interviews, photographs and more.
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Publication date: 28 November 2016
This EMN Inform examines – inter alia – the state of play of the 1954 and 1961 conventions on statelessness, statelessness determination procedures, rights granted to recognized stateless persons, and the situation of stateless minors in the EU.
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Publication date: 19 February 2016
This study, commissioned by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the LIBE Committee, describes the practices and approaches in all EU Member States as regards the prevention and eradication of statelessness.
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Publication date: 01 March 2013
In an attempt to gain a greater understanding of the situation facing stateless people in Belgium, UNHCR undertook this interdisciplinary research project which examines socio-demographic and legal aspects of statelessness.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: stateless persons, UNHCR
Publication date:
The Antwerp Family Court has annulled the decisions of local civil registry officials that sought to revoke the Belgian nationality of children born in Belgium to Palestinian parents. In five rulings issued on 27 February 2026, the court emphasised that depriving these children of nationality would be contrary to their best interests.
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Main theme: Statelessness, Citizenship & Nationality
Keywords: Belgian nationality, misuse, withdrawal, Palestinian, child, best interests of the child
Publication date:
On 27 October 2025 in Luxembourg, stakeholders will gather to discuss how the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum addresses statelessness as a vulnerability. The meeting will focus on early experiences with implementing the new obligations under the Screening and Asylum Procedures Regulations. Organised under the EMN Platform on Statelessness, it will provide space for exchange among national experts, EU agencies, and international organisations.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, statelessness, vulnerability
Publication date:
The European Network on Statelessness organises an annual webinar to provide participants with a state of play on statelessness in Europe and an opportunity to learn about the latest developments.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: stateless persons, Statelessness Index
Publication date:
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the International Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, UNHCR and NANSEN organise a study day on statelessness. Particular emphasis will be placed on the rights of stateless persons and the specific procedures applicable in Belgium, in particular the new residence procedure for stateless persons.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: stateless persons, residence procedure, access to rights
Publication date:
Myria has published the fifth thematic section of its 2024 annual report. In this section, entitled « International protection », Myria pays particular attention inter alia to the new residence procedure for stateless persons. The Federal Migration Centre underlines that the new procedure is subject to strict conditions and that it provides reduced procedural guarantees for stateless persons.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: stateless persons, residence procedure, procedural guarantee, equal treatment, interview
Publication date:
As the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons celebrates its 70th anniversary on 28 September 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates the number of stateless people worldwide at more than 4 million by the end of 2023.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: stateless persons, access to nationality
Publication date:
The law of 10 March 2024 which creates a residence status as a stateless person in Belgium, comes into force on 1 September 2024. Applications for admission to stay on the grounds of statelessness must now be submitted directly to the Immigration Office by registered mail.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: application for statelessness, admission to stay, stateless persons
Publication date:
This multistakeholder meeting, jointly organized by the Council of Europe and the EMN Luxembourg within the framework of the EMN Platform on Statelessness, will allow participants to share good practices and challenges on topics including the age assessment and best interest of the child; the burden of proof in the special case of children and the access to nationality for children.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: age assessment, best interests of the child, burden of proof, access to nationality
Publication date:
While a draft law introducing a new right of residence for stateless persons is currently being discussed in Parliament, ENS and Nansen underline that the project has a large number of formal and substantive conditions and reduced procedural guarantees. They conclude that it is not compatible with the obligation to have a fair, effective and accessible procedure for the access of stateless people to their rights.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: stateless persons, right of residence
Publication date:
EMN Luxembourg, which chairs the EMN Platform on Statelessness, organizes a technical meeting on access to nationality for stateless persons.
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Main theme: Statelessness
Keywords: stateless persons, access to nationality
Publication date:
In 2018, the European Migration Network (EMN) celebrates its 10 year anniversary. On this occasion, the EMN organized a conference on 15 May in Brussels.
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Main theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: anniversary, EMN conference
Publication date:
The Platform on Statelessness of the European Migration Network, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the European Network on Statelessness organized the conference "Addressing Statelessness in the European Union, One year on from the adoption of European Council Conclusions".