Abstract

Statelessness remains one of the most overlooked human rights issues in contemporary Europe, affecting over 600,000 individuals who exist in legal limbo without nationality, documentation, or access to fundamental rights. This study examines the lived experiences of eight stateless individuals —five men and three women— residing in Greece and the Netherlands, exploring how the absence of legal identity impacts their daily lives, educational opportunities, employment prospects, and social integration. Through qualitative interviews and comparative policy analysis, significant gaps between international legal commitments and practical implementation in both countries are revealed. While Greece has ratified the Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, it lacks a functioning Statelessness Determination Procedure, leaving individuals without formal recognition or protection. The Netherlands, despite introducing such a procedure in 2023, provides recognition without necessarily conferring residence rights or meaningful inclusion. The findings which were acquired through semi-structured interviews demonstrate that stateless individuals face severe barriers to education, employment, and social participation, with children generally experiencing better access than adults. The study identifies critical policy gaps, including inadequate birth registration systems, bureaucratic complexity, insufficient legal support, and discrimination against vulnerable ethnic minorities, which perpetuate cycles of exclusion across generations. We propose comprehensive reforms including establishment of accessible determination procedures, strengthened birth registration safeguards, improved data collection, enhanced cross-cultural training for officials, and harmonized European policies aligned with the 2024 European Pact on Migration and Asylum. Addressing statelessness requires not only legal recognition but also practical mechanisms that restore dignity, equality, and the fundamental human right to belong.