Research Articles
Benchmarking the Protection against Statelessness in Europe: Comparative Findings
Authors:
Olivier Vonk ,
Marie Curie fellow, Faculty of Law, Maastricht University and visiting researcher, Georgetown University
Maarten Vink,
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Maastricht University and Part-time Professor, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute
René de Groot
Professor of Comparative Law and Private International Law, Universities of Maastricht, Hasselt and Aruba
Abstract
This contribution presents the comparative findings of the ‘Protection against Statelessness Database’, developed by the European Union Democracy Observatory on Citizenship in collaboration with UNHCR. Using the most important international standards as a benchmark, the database provides a normative assessment of the extent to which citizenship laws in 36 European states provide sufficient protection against statelessness. While Section 2 explains the methodology developed by the Observatory in collaboration with UNHCR, and in particular the 17 ‘modes of protection against statelessness’ that have been devised, Section 3 draws some comparative conclusions. This is based on a fourfold distinction – that is, whether the countries provide more protection than required by the standards; act in line with the standards; provide a limited safeguard against statelessness; or provide no safeguard at all. Concluding that a serious attempt is generally made to avoid cases of statelessness from arising, the contribution also feels there is room for improvement.
How to Cite:
Vonk O, Vink M and de Groot R, ‘Benchmarking the Protection Against Statelessness in Europe: comparative Findings’ (2014) 19 Tilburg Law Review 294 DOI: http://doi.org/10.1163/22112596-01902031
Published on
01 Jan 2014.
Peer Reviewed
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