Slovenia Statelessness Study

7/31/2019 Slovenia Statelessness Study

1/50

Mirovni intitut

The Peace Institute

Intitut za sodobne drubene in politine tudije

Institute for Contemporary Social and Political Studies

A Study and Comparison

of National Legislation in

Slovenia and InternationalStandards Related to

Statelessness

Report by Dr. Nea Kogovek alamon, Head of ProjectPeace Institute Institute for Contemporary Social and Political Studies

January 2012


2/50A Study and Comparison of National Legislation in Slovenia and International Standards Related to StatelessnessJanuary 2012

Table of Contents

List of National Laws................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction and Methodology ................................................................................................... 5

I. Mapping Existing Legislation in Slovenia to Determine Rights Accorded to

Stateless Persons Compared with Other Legal Statuses ................................................. 7

I.1AliensAct........................................................................................................................... 7

I.2OtherRelevantSlovenianLegislation............................................................................... 11

I.3StatelessnessasaResultofSuccessionPoliciesFollowingtheDissolutionofYugoslavia........................................................................................... 20

II. Comparing Existing Legislation with UN Conventions and Other International

Instruments while Identifying Existing Gaps .................................................................... 22

II.11954ConventionRelatingtotheStatusofStatelessPersons....................................... 22

II.2OtherInternationalInstrumentsGrantingRightstoStatelessPersons.......................... 35

II.3ConsistencyBetweenTreatiesReferringtotheRighttoNationalityandNationalLaw...... 37

III. Evaluation of Obstacles Hindering Slovenia from Becoming a Party to

the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness ................................................ 39

III.1ConsistencyBetweentheConventionontheReductionofStatelessnessandNationalLaw.................................................................................... 39

III.2ResponseofRelevantNationalAuthoritiesandExperts................................................ 50

III.3Conclusions.................................................................................................................... 50

2



List of National Laws

NameoftheAct Publicationdetails

Act Implementing the Principle

of Equal Treatment

OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.50/2004and61/2007

Act Regulating the Realisation of the Public

Interest in the Field of Culture

OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.96/2002andsubsequentamendments

Aliens Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.50/2011andsubsequentamendments

Aviation Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.18/2001andsubsequentamendments

Citizenship of the Republic

of Slovenia Act

OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSlovenia

No.1I/1991andsubsequentamendments

Copyright and Related Rights Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.21/1995andsubsequentamendments

Decision on the abolition of visa

requirement for recognized refugees,

stateless persons and holders of travel

documents issued by the third countries

listed in Council Regulation (EC) No

539/2001, Annex II

OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.19/2010

Elementary School Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSlovenia

No.12/1996andsubsequentamendmentsEmployment and Work of Aliens Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSlovenia

No.26/2011

Employment Relationship Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.42/2002and103/2007

Financial Social Assistance Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.61/2010andsubsequentamendments

Free Legal Aid Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.48/2001andsubsequentamendments

General Administrative Procedure Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSlovenia

No.80/1999andsubsequentmodications

Gimnazije Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.12/1996andsubsequentamendments

Health Care and Health Insurance Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.9/1992andsubsequentamendments

Higher Education Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.67/1993andsubsequentamendments

Housing Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.69/2003andsubsequentamendments

International Protection Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.111/2007andsubsequentamendments

3



NameoftheAct Publicationdetails

Labour Market Regulation Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.80/2010

Maritime Code OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSlovenia

No.26/2001andsubsequentamendments

Marriage and Family Relations Act OfcialGazetteoftheSocialistRepublicofSloveniaNo.15/1976andsubsequentamendments

Minor Offences Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.7/2003andsubsequentmodications

Parental Protection and Family Benet Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.97/2001andsubsequentmodications

Pension and Disability Insurance Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.106/1999andsubsequentamendments

Personal Name Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.20/2006

Private International Law and

Procedure Act


Post-secondary Vocational Education Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.86/2004

Reciprocity Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.9/1999

Recognition and Evaluation of Education

Act

OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSlovenia

No.73/2004Register of Deaths, Births and Marriages

Act


Religious Freedom Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.14/2007

Rules on Secondary School Enrolment OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.12/1996andsubsequentamendments

Social Security Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.54/1992andsubsequentamendments

Temporary Protection of Displaced

Persons Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.65/2005

The Registration of a Same-Sex Civil

Partnership Act

OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.65/2005andsubsequentamendments

Vocational Education Act OfcialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.79/2006

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Introduction and Methodology

ThestudywasprocuredbytheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR),Re-

gionalRepresentationOfceBudapestin2011.Theresearchanddraftingofthereportwascon-

ductedbetween1December2011and13January2012.Intheprocessofthepreparationofthestudythefollowingobjectiveswerepursued:

I. TomaptheexistinglegislationintheRepublicofSloveniatodeterminetherightsaccorded

tostatelesspersonsincomparisonwithotherstatuses;

II. Tocomparetheexistinglegislationwiththe1954UNConventionRelatingtotheStatus

ofStatelessPersons(1954Convention)and other internationalinstrumentsandidentify

existinggaps;and

III. ToevaluatetheobstaclesthatarehinderingSloveniafrombecomingapartytothe1961ConventionontheReductionofStatelessness(1961Convention)andtodevelopsugges-

tionsandrecommendationsonpossibleadvocacyactivitiesthatcouldbeundertakenby

UNHCRandotherstakeholders.

Inordertoachievetheseobjectives,severalmethodologicalstepswereundertaken.Toprepare

therstpartofthestudytherstquestionthatwasaddressedwaswhetherthenationallegal

systemaddressesthesituationofstatelesspeople,andifyes,inwhatmanner.Forthispurposeall

provisionscontainingdirectorindirectreferencestostatelessnesswereidentiedintheSlovenian

legislation.Further,theauthorsanalysediftheseprovisionsprovidepreferentialorlessfavourable

treatmentofstatelesspeoplecomparedtootherindividuals.Theaimwastondoutwhetherthere

arespecicrightsawardedtostatelessindividuals,andifnot,inwhichothercategoriesstatelesspeoplefall.Theresearchmethods,whichweremostlycomprisedofdeskresearchtools,included

researchusingthefollowingsourcesofdata:

Legislationdatabases(LawRegisterhttp://zakonodaja.gov.si ,NationalAssemblydatabases

http://www.dz-rs.si/wps/portal/Home/andcommercialdatabaseIusInfo

http://www.ius-software.si/);

Caselawdatabases(SupremeCourtdatabasewww.sodnapraksa.si,ConstitutionalCourt

databasehttp://www.us-rs.si/odlocitve/iskalnik-po-odlocitvah/andcommercialdatabase

IusInfohttp://www.ius-software.si/);and

Jurisprudencedatabases(CooperativeOnlineBibliographicSystem&Services

http://www.cobiss.si/cobiss_eng.html,LawJournalPravnaPraksadatabase,and

commercialdatabaseIusInfohttp://www.ius-software.si/).

Theresearchutilizedtheabovedatabasesbyapplyingkeywordsorphrasesconnectedtostate-

lessness(theSloveniantranslationsofstatelessnessareapatrid, apatridnost, apatriden, apatridna,

brezdravljanskost, brezdravljanstvo, brez dravljanstva).Inordertoensurethecorrectuseofthe

study,thestudyprovidesdenitionsofdifferenttypesofstatelessnessaswellastherelationship

betweenstatelessnessandtheerasurefromtheregisterofpermanentresidence(atypeofdepri-vationoflegalstatusthatoccurredinSloveniain1992).

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Followingcompletionoftherstpartofthestudy,thesecondpartfocusedoncomparingthend-

ingswiththeinternationalstandardscontainedinthe1954Convention,whichtheSocialistFederal

Republic(SFR)YugoslaviahadpreviouslyratiedandSloveniabecamepartytobysuccession.In

addition,researchresultswerecomparedtotheprovisionsofthe1997EuropeanConventionon

Nationalityandotherinternationallegalinstrumentsthatconcernthepreventionofstatelessness.Thestudycomparedthenationalprovisionswiththeinternationalstandardsinreverseorder;in

otherwords,foreachinternationalstandard,acounterpartprovisionwasidentiedinthenational

law.Iflinguisticassessmentofaccordanceofthenationalprovisionswiththeinternationalstand-

ardwasnot possible,legalinterpretationmethodswereused(historical,systemic,teleological,

intra legem, contra legem,etc.).

Inthelastpartofthestudy,theprovisionsofthe1961Conventionwascomparedwiththenational

lawprovisionsinordertoidentifythegapsbetweenthem,andthroughthisanalysis,possiblehin-

drancestoSloveniaaccedingtotheConventionwereidentied.Thereasonsforthelackofacces-

sionwerecheckedwiththerelevantministries(theMinistryofJustice,theMinistryofInteriorandtheMinistryofForeignAffairs),aswellaswithexpertsintheeldofcitizenshipandinternational

law(Dr.FelicitaMedved,Prof.MatejAccettoandDr.VasilkaSancin).

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I. Mapping Existing Legislation in Slovenia

to Determine Rights Accorded to Stateless

Persons Compared with Other Legal Statuses

I.1 Aliens Act1

TheAliensActstipulatesproceduresandrulesforprocessingandkeepingpersonaldataofaliens,

conditionsforapprovingorrefusingentrytoaliens,issuingvisas,temporaryandpermanentresi-

dencepermitsandpermissiontoremain(atypeoftolerationstatus),allowingalienstoleavethe

country,grantingpowerstoindividualStatebodies, issuingidentitycards,passportsandother

documentstoaliensandintegratingaliens.ThenewAliensActwhichisexaminedinthissection

ofthestudyhasbeeninforcesince28October2011.Theprovisionsdiscussedinthestudyhave

notchangedsubstantiallyincomparisonwiththeoldAliensAct.

AccordingtoArticle3,theAliensActsprovisionsareapplicabletoallaliens,includingstateless

individuals,exceptwhereexpresslystatedotherwise.Theonlygroupsofpersonsexcludedfrom

thescopeofthelawareasylumseekersandpersonsbeinggrantedinternationalprotectionortemporaryprotection(seeSectionI.2.2).

TheActalsocontainsseveralprovisionsthatdirectlyrefertostatelessness.Furthermore,theAct

containsprovisionsthatgovernobtainingaresidencepermitinSlovenia.Theseprovisions,while

notexpresslyreferringtostatelessindividuals,representkeyprovisionsindeterminingtherights

statelessindividualscanaccessinSlovenia.

1 OfficialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.50/2011andsubsequentamendments.

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I.1.1 Provisions Containing Direct or Indirect Reference to Statelessness

Article2oftheAliensActdenesastatelesspersonas:

A stateless person shall be an alien who is not deemed to be a national of any country in

accordance with the legal acts of individual countries.

The1954Conventiondenesastatelesspersonasapersonwhoisnotconsideredasanational

byanyStateundertheoperationofitslaw.UnderthisConvention,itslawdoesnotonlymean

legislation,butalsoministerialdecrees,regulations,orders,judicialcaselaw(incountrieswitha

traditionofprecedent)and,whereappropriate,customarypractice.2AcomparisonoftheConven-

tiondenitionwiththedenitionintheAliensActraisesaquestionastowhethertheyareincom-

pliance,i.e.whetherthetermlegalactsrestrictstherecommendedinterpretationofthetermits

lawascontainedinthe1954Convention.AccordingtotheUNHCRGuidelinesonStatelessness,thetermlegalactsseemstobenarrowerthanitslaw,astheformerdoesnotnecessarilycover

sourcesoflawsuchascustomarypractice.

Inviewofthedenitioncitedabove,anotherimportantquestionthatarisesishowapersoncan

provehe/sheisastatelessperson.Itwouldbeappropriatetointerpretthisdenitioninaway

whichwouldrequireinformationonlawfromotherstates,butonlyfromstateswithwhichaperson

hasties,suchasthecountryofhis/herbirth,thecountryofthenationalityofhis/herparentsorthe

countryofhis/herlastpermanentorhabitualresidence.

Article3(2)statesthattheprovisionsoftheConvention(andnottheprovisionsoftheAliensAct)

shallapplytostatelesspersonswhenthisismorefavourabletothem.

Article3(3)containsanotherimportantprovisionconcerningstatelessindividuals:

In the event that the principle of reciprocity is required to be exercised by law with respect to

aliens/citizens of other countries, stateless persons may be exempt from this principle if they

have resided in the Republic of Slovenia for a minimum of three years.

ThisisageneralprovisionthatdoesnotonlyaffecttheprovisionsoftheAliensActbutallprovi-

sionsinSlovenianlawrelatingtostatelessindividuals,forexample,provisionsrelatingtoaccesstoeducation(e.g.statelesspeopleareexemptfromtheprincipleofreciprocityregardingaccessto

secondaryeducationiftheyhaveresidedinSloveniaforthreeyearsormore).However,whilethis

provisionallowsanexemptionfromtheprincipleofreciprocity,whichisessentialforthestateless

toexerciseequalaccesstorightsasforeignnationals,thelegalrequirementofathree-yearresi-

denceinSloveniamayoftenprovetobeimpossibleforastatelesspersontomeet.

2 UNHCR,GuidelinesonStatelessnessNo.1.ThedefinitionofStatelessPersoninArticle1(1)ofthe1954ConventionrelatingtotheStatusofStatelessPersons,HCR/GS/12/01,20February2012,http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/4f4371b82.pdf

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Article73regulatesthepermissiontoremain,apermissiongrantedtoanalienwhowouldother-

wiseberemovedtotemporarilyremaininSlovenia.Thispermissionisnotaresidenceentitlement

butonlyprotectsanindividualfromdeportation.TheArticlelistssituationsinwhichthepermission

toremainisgranted,includingthreesituationsthatrelatetostatelessindividuals:

- if the alien does not have and cannot acquire a valid travel document from his/her

country of nationality.

- if his/her country of nationality or the country where a stateless person last had his/her

residence is not ready to accept him/her.

- if removal is not possible, because of circumstances that do not permit his/her return, such

as natural and other disasters in the country of nationality of the alien or the country where a

stateless person last had his/her residence.

Inthiswaya statelessperson,justlikea foreignnational,canbegrantedpermissiontoremaininSlovenia.Besidesthenon-removalper se,permissiontoremainentitlesanalientoalimited

scopeofrightsincludingemergencymedicalcare,nancialsocialassistance3andtherightto

freeelementaryschooleducationforminors.AccordingtoArticle76(6)thesamerightsarealso

guaranteedtoalienswhoaredetainedintheCentreforForeigners(exceptthatinsteadofnancial

socialassistancetheyareprovidedbasiccareattheCentre).

Anotherimportantprovisionforstatelessindividualsis Article98whichconcernsissuinganal-

ienspassport:

1) An alien who is in possession of a residence permit in the Republic of Slovenia may beissued an aliens passport if:

- the person concerned is stateless;

- the person does not have and cannot acquire a valid travel document from his/her

country of nationality.

2) An aliens passport may also be issued to other aliens who do not have a valid travel

document, if well-founded reasons exist for this.

...

TheconditionpossessionofaresidencepermitintheRepublicofSloveniaincludedinthispro-visionwillrarelybemetwhenitcomestostatelessindividualsasoneoftherequirementsfora

residencepermitisavalidpassport,whichbydenitionisdifcultforstatelesspersonstoobtain.

Theprovisionseemstoallowanalienspassporttobeissuedeventoapersonwhodoesnothave

aresidencepermitinSlovenia,providingwell-foundedreasonsexist.However,inpractice,pass-

portsarenotissuedontheselegalgrounds.Requestsforalienspassportslodgedbystateless

individualswithoutaresidencepermitinSloveniahavenotyetbeenapproved.

3 TherightoffinancialsocialassistanceforpersonswithpermissiontoremainhasbeenintroducedbythenewAliensActanddidnotexistinpreviouslegislation.

9



I.1.2 Provisions on Obtaining a Residence Permit in the Republic of Slovenia

TheprovisionsforobtainingaresidencepermitinSloveniaareofextremeimportanceforstateless

individualsinSlovenia,sincemostSlovenianlawsaccordrightsonlytothosealienswhoholda

residencepermit.AnalienwhoisnotinpossessionofaresidencepermitinaccordancewiththeAliensActcannotseekemployment,haslimitedaccesstoeducation,cannotapplyforSlovenian

citizenshipandisexcludedfrommostotherrights.Forstatelessindividualsthemostimportant

dichotomy inSlovenianlegislationis thereforenotbetween provisionsregardingstatelessindi-

vidualsandforeignnationals,butbetweenprovisionsregardingalienswithresidencepermitsand

thosewithout.StatelesspersonsaremostlyexcludedfromacquiringresidencepermitsinSlove-

nia,andarethereforeexcludedfromtherightsavailabletothemajorityofaliensinSlovenia.

AccordingtoArticle33(3)and(4)everyalienwhowishestoobtainaresidencepermitinSlovenia

hastomeetthefollowingrequirements:

possessionofavalidtraveldocument, appropriatehealthinsurance,

sufcientmeansofsubsistenceduringhis/herresidenceinthecountryorotherguaranteesthathis/herlivelihoodwillbeprovided,and

anyotherconditionswhichpursuanttotheAliensActarerequiredtobefullledforissuingindividualtypesofresidencepermits.

Theproblemwiththisprovisionisthattherequirementofavalidtraveldocumentwillinpractice

excludemoststatelessindividuals.

Statelessindividualswillveryrarelybeinpossessionofavalidpassportorothertraveldocument.

Thiswillonlyoccurifastatelesspersonwasissuedanalienspassportinanothercountry(whichisrare)orifanalienspassportwasissuedtohim/herbytheSlovenianauthorities(whichdoesnot

happeninpractice).Article33(6)shouldalsobementionedwithregardtothisissue.Theprovision

states:

A residence permit, except for the rst temporary residence permit, may be issued to an alien,

who does not have and cannot obtain a travel document of his country of origin, if his/her

identity is uncontested.

Whilethisprovisiondoesindeedpresentanexemptionfromtherequirementforavalidtraveldocument,itisinfactonlyapplicabletopersonswhohavealreadyacquiredaresidencepermitin

Sloveniaandwishtohaveitrenewed/extended.TherstresidencepermitforanalieninSlovenia

isbydenitionarsttemporaryresidencepermit,whichis,aswecanseefromthecitedpara-

graph,excludedfromthescopeoftheexemption.

Thefollowingexampleshowshowastatelessperson,whodoesnothaveavalidpassport,isin

practiceexcludedfromacquiringaresidencepermitinSlovenia.His/heronlychanceistorstap-

plyforanalienspassport;however,eventhisisunsuccessfulinpractice.

A. B. was illegally erased from the Slovenianregistry of permanent residenceon 26 February1992.Theerasureofpeoplefromtheregistryofpermanentresidenceanddeprivingthemoftheir

legalstatuswasameasurenotforeseeninthenationallegislationneitherbeforenorafterthe

independence.AfterbeingdeportedfromSloveniaseveraltimesA.B.nallysettledinGermany

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underaDuldungstatus(atemporarysuspensionofdeportation).Finally,inOctober2010he

againreceivedhispermanent residencestatusinSlovenia.However,theresidencestatuswas

onlyrecognizedforhimpersonallyandnotforhisfamilythathehadestablishedwhileabroad.

Hiswife(originallyfromKosovo)andchildren(borninSloveniaandGermany)wereallstateless.

Sincetheir DuldungstatusinGermanywouldsoonexpire,theironlychanceforanormallifewastomovetoSloveniawhereA.B.hadaresidencepermit.Inorderforthefamilytobeableto

movedtoSloveniatogether,thewifeandchildrenstartedprocedureswithSlovenianauthorities

toreceiveresidencepermitsinSloveniaonthegroundsoffamilyreunication.Sinceavalidtravel

documentisaprerequisiteforaresidencepermitonanygroundsandtheapplicantswerestate-

lessandwithoutpassports,theyappliedatthesametimeforbothresidencepermitsandforan

alienspassport.Bothresidencepermitsandalienspassportsaremutuallydependenttogeta

residencepermit,onemusthaveavalidpassportandviceversa.Eventhoughthelawforesees

issuingalienspassportstostatelesspersonswhodonothaveresidencepermits,thishasnotyet

occurredinpractice.

I.2 Other Relevant Slovenian Legislation

ThissectionidentiesSlovenianlegislationfromvariousareaswhichgoverntherightsandob-

ligationsofaliens.Thelegislationisexaminedfromthepointofviewofthespecicsituationof

statelesspersons.Particularattentionisgiventoprovisionsthatdifferentiatebetweenstateless

personsandotheraliensandthosethatdifferentiatebetweenalienswitharesidencepermitand

thosewithout.

I.2.1 Citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia Act4

Article4oftheCitizenshipoftheRepublicofSloveniaAct(CitizenshipAct)states:

A child shall obtain citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia by origin:

1. if the childs father and mother were citizens of the Republic of Slovenia at the time of the

childs birth;

2. if one of the parents was citizen of the Republic of Slovenia at the time of the childs birth

and the child was born on the territory of the Republic of Slovenia;3. if one of the parents was citizen of the Republic of Slovenia at the time of the childs birth

and the other was unknown or of unknown citizenship or without citizenship and the child

was born in a foreign country.

InaccordancewithArticle4.2citizenshipisgrantedbyoperationoflawtoachildbornonthe

territoryofSloveniaifoneofhisparentsisaSloveniancitizen.Iftheotherparentisstateless,the

requirementforthechildtobebornontheterritoryoftheRepublicofSloveniaisdroppedandhe/

sheobtainscitizenshipoftheRepublicofSloveniaregardlessofthecountryof thechildsbirth

(paragraph3).

4 OfficialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.1I/1991andsubsequentamendments.

11



If,however,achildisbornabroadtoaSloveniannationalandaforeignnational,thechildmustbe

registeredinSloveniainordertoacquireSloveniannationality,assetoutinArticle5:

A child born in a foreign country, whose one parent is a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia

at the time of the childs birth and the other is a foreign citizen, shall obtain citizenship of

the Republic of Slovenia by origin, if the child is registered as a citizen of the Republic of

Slovenia before the age of 18 years, or if the child actually permanently settles in the Republic

of Slovenia before the age of 18 years with the parent, who is a citizen of the Republic of

Slovenia.

The registration under the preceding paragraph shall not be necessary if the child would

otherwise remain stateless.

The child can be registered as a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia by the parent, who is a

citizen of the Republic of Slovenia. If the child is under guardianship because he does not

have any parents, or the have the parents had their parental rights taken away or have been

incapacitated, the childs guardian, who is a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia, can register

the child with the consent of the Centre for Social Security.

Ifcertainadditionalconditionsaremet,apersonmayregisterforSloveniancitizenshipevenafter

theageof18yearsbutpriortotheageof36years(Article6):

Citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia shall also be acquired by a person, born in a foreign

country, who is older than 18 years, if he declares for the registration into citizenship of the

Republic of Slovenia prior to reaching the age of 36 years, provided that the following two

conditions are met:

1. that since his birth until the given declaration one of the parents was a citizen of theRepublic of Slovenia or that he was citizen of the Republic of Slovenia until he died if he

died before the given declaration,

2. that after reaching the age of 18 the persons citizenship was not revoked on the basis of

release, renunciation or deprivation.

Aswe cansee above,Article 5containsaspecicprovision(paragraph2) thatallowsaperson

withoutcitizenshiptoobtainSloveniannationalityevenif therequirementsfor registrationfrom

paragraph1arenotmet.

ThisActcontainsanotherprovisiontopreventstatelessness(Article9,paragraph1):

A child born or found on the territory of the Republic of Slovenia of unknown parentage or

whose parents are of unknown citizenship or have no citizenship at all shall acquire citizenship

of the Republic of Slovenia.

FurthermorethisActallowsstatelessindividualstoobtaincitizenshipthroughnaturalization.The

generalprovisionfornaturalizationisArticle10,whichdenesseveralrequirementsthatneedto

bemetbeforethecompetentauthoritymaywithinitsdiscretionadmitapersontothecitizenship

oftheRepublicofSlovenia,ifthisisinaccordancewiththenationalinterest.

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I.2.3 Employment and Work of Aliens Act8

ThisisthemainlawthatgovernstherighttoworkforaliensinSlovenia.Thelawdoesnotmake

anydirectreferencetopersonswhoarestateless.Italsodoesnotmakeanyrightsconditionalon

whetherapersonholdsacitizenship(exceptintermsofpreferentialtreatmentofEUnationalsandnationalsoftheEuropeanEconomicAreaandSwitzerland).

However,Article6(7)states:

Aliens, who are employed or conduct work in the Republic of Slovenia, must possess a

residence status in accordance with the law governing residence of aliens in the Republic of

Slovenia.

Therefore,aresidencepermitinaccordancewiththeAliensActisaprerequisiteforobtainingaworkpermitinSlovenia.Thisexcludesthemajorityofpersonswhoarestateless.

I.2.4 Elementary School Act9

Article10ofthislawstates:

Children, who are foreign nationals or persons without citizenship and reside in the Republic of

Slovenia, have the right to mandatory elementary school education under equal conditions as

citizens of the Republic of Slovenia.

Thismeansthattherighttofreeelementaryschooleducationisalsoguaranteedforminorswho

havethepermissiontoremainstatusinaccordancewithArticle73oftheAliensAct.

Furthermore,Article8(2)oftheElementarySchoolActsetsoutsomespecialprovisionsregarding

studentswhoarenotnativeSlovenianspeakers:

For children who reside in the Republic of Slovenia and whose mother language is not

Slovenian, lectures of Slovenian language and culture and, with cooperation of their countries

of origin, also lectures in their mother tongue and culture are organized at the time of entryinto the school.

8 OfficialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.26/2011.


14



I.2.5 Gimnazije Act10

, Vocational Education Act11

and Rules on Secondary SchoolEnrolment

12

AccesstofreeeducationforforeignnationalsatbothtypesofhighschoolsinSloveniagimna-

zijeandvocationalschools-issubjecttotheprincipleofreciprocity(Article9(4)oftheGimnazijeActandArticle 7(4)of theVocationalEducationAct).AccordingtoArticle3(3)of theAliensAct

(seeSectionI.1.1)statelesspersonsmaybeexemptfromtheprincipleofreciprocityiftheyhave

residedinSloveniaforaminimumofthreeyears.Itshouldbementionedthatbothactsinthe

mentionedArticlesusethetermforeignnationals.However,consideringthecitedprovisionof

theAliensAct,thisshouldnotpreventstatelesspersonsfromenteringhighschoolsinSlovenia.

Everyyearsecondaryschoolspublishapublicinvitationregardingplacesavailableinsecondary

educationalprograms.AccordingtoArticle3oftheRulesonSecondarySchoolEnrolment,stu-

dentseligiblefortheseplacesareSloveniannationals,SlovenianswithoutSloveniancitizenship,

EUnationals,nationalsofcountrieswithwhichSloveniaconcludedinternationalagreementsoneducationundertheprincipleofreciprocity,andpersonswhohavetherighttosecondaryeduca-

tionaccordingtotherulesonasylum,temporaryprotectionofdisplacedpersonsoraliens.Other

foreigners(whichwouldincludestatelesspersonswhodonotfallwithinanyofthesecategories)

mayenrollinprogramswhereplacesarestillavailableaftertheenrolmentofpeoplefromthe

statedcategories.

I.2.6 Post-secondary Vocational Education Act13

and Higher Education Act14

Similarlytosecondaryeducation,accesstopost-secondaryandhighereducationforforeignna-

tionalsunderthesameconditionsasSloveniannationalsissubjecttotheprincipleofreciprocity(Article4.3ofthePost-secondaryVocationalEducationActandArticle7.5oftheHigherEducation

Act).AccordingtoArticle3.3oftheAliensActstatelesspersonsmaybeexemptfromtheprinciple

ofreciprocityiftheyhaveresidedinSloveniaforaminimumofthreeyears.






15



I.2.7 Health Care and Health Insurance Act15

Article7setsout theexpensesrelatedtohealthcarewhicharenancedfromthestatebudget,

including:

emergency medical treatment of persons with unknown residence, foreigners from

countries without concluded international agreements and foreigners and nationals of Slovenia

with permanent residence abroad who temporarily reside in Slovenia or are on the way

through Slovenia and for whom it was not possible to secure payment of medical services,

as well as other persons, who in accordance with this act are not included into the obligatory

health insurance and are not insured with a foreign insurance institution

Thewidescopeofthisprovisionalsoappearstocoverstatelesspersonswhoarenotinsured.

Furthermore,ashasalreadybeenpresented,emergencymedicalcareisalsooneoftherights

availabletopersonswithpermissionstoremainandpersonsdetainedintheCentreforForeigners.

However,theimplementationofemergencymedicaltreatmentandemergencymedicalcarein

practiceisproblematicaseveryhealthcareserviceproviderhasdiscretionindecidingwhetheror

notcertainhealthservicesareurgent(Article25).

I.2.8 Pension and Disability Insurance Act16

Compulsoryinsuranceisprescribedinthislegislationforallpersonswhoareemployedandthis

Actdoesnotmakeanydistinctioninthisregardtoforeigncitizensorpersonswhoarestateless.

VoluntaryinsuranceinthespeciccasessetoutinArticle34ofthisActisgenerallyallowedfor

Sloveniancitizens.Analienmayapplyforvoluntaryinsuranceonlyifitissoprovidedbyaninter-

nationalagreement(Article34.4).Inthecaseofstatelesspersonssuchagreementcouldperhaps

bethe1954Convention(specically,Article24oftheConvention).

I.2.9 Social Security Act17

and Financial Social Assistance Act18

ThebeneciariesoftheservicessetoutintheSocialSecurityActareSloveniancitizensandaliens

withapermanentresidencepermit(Article5.1).However,alimitedscopeofservicesisalsoavail-abletoalienswhodonotholdapermanentresidencepermit(Article5.2).Theseservicesinclude

socialassistanceindeterminingsocialdifcultiesofthepersonandassessmentofpossiblesolu-

tionsavailablein thesocialsecuritysystemandpersonalassistancewhichincludescounseling

andguidinganindividualwiththepurposeofenablinghimorhertodevelopandimprovehisor

hersocialskills.





16



Accordingto the Financial Social Assistance Act aliens with a permanent residence permit in

Sloveniacanbeentitledtonancialsocialassistance.Apartfrompermanentresidencepermit

holders,personscanbeentitledtonancialsocialassistanceonthegroundsofaninternational

agreementpursuanttotheFinancialSocialAssistanceAct(Article3).

AsexplainedunderSectionI.1.1,the newAliensActprovidesthatnancialsocialassistanceis

alsoensuredforindividualswhohavepermissionstoremain.

I.2.10 Marriage and Family Relations Act19

and the Registration ofa Same-Sex Civil Partnership Act

20

Article25oftheMarriageandFamilyRelationsActstates:

Persons who intend to marry must register with the civil registry ofcer, who administers theregister of marriages for the settlement in which they want to marry.

Withregardtothisregistration,Article26(2)furtherstates:

Together with the registration they must provide extracts from their registers of birth and

notications of citizenship, if these data cannot be established from ofcial records.

Thisprovisioncanbeproblematicforstatelesspersonssincetheycannotprovidenoticationoftheir

citizenship.Theparagraphcouldbeinterpretedinawaythatforastatelesspersonthisrequirement

isdropped(orinstead,somekindofproofofstatelessnessmustbeprovided);however,inpractice

thiswouldbedecidedbytheresponsiblecivilregistryofcer.Iftheseobstacleswereovercomeand

thestatelesspersonscouldgetmarried,amarriagecerticatewouldbeissuedtothem.

Anotherproblematicprovision(Article140,paragraph1)dealswiththeadoptionofachild:

An adoptive parent can exceptionally be a foreign citizen, if the Social Work Centre was not

able to nd an adoptive parent among the citizens of the Republic of Slovenia for a child who

is to be adopted.

Thisprovisioncouldbeinterpretedinawaythatsuchadoptiveparenthastohaveforeigncitizen-ship,anda contrario,maynotbeastatelessperson.Again,theinterpretationoftheprovision

wouldinpracticedependontheresponsibleauthority.

Article3(2)oftheRegistrationofaSame-SexCivilPartnershipActstates:

Partnership can be registered if at least one of the partners holds the citizenship of the

Republic of Slovenia.

19 OfficialGazetteoftheSocialistRepublicofSloveniaNo.15/1976andsubsequentamendments.


17



Asthereisnospecicmentionofforeigncitizenship,therearenohindrancestoregistrationifthe

otherpersonisstateless.

I.2.11 Copyright and Related Rights Act21

ThisActregulatestherecognitionofcopyrightsandindustrialrightsofnaturalandlegalpersons.

ThisActcontainsspecicprovisionsguaranteeingrightstostatelesspersons(Article183):

1) Authors and holders of related rights who do not have a citizenship or it cannot be

established enjoy the same protection under this law as citizens of the Republic of

Slovenia, if they have their residence in the Republic of Slovenia.

2) If they do not have a residence or it cannot be established, they enjoy in the Republic of

Slovenia the same protection as citizens of the Republic of Slovenia, if they have their

habitual residence in the Republic of Slovenia.3) If they have neither in the Republic of Slovenia their residence nor habitual residence,

they enjoy in the Republic of Slovenia the same protection as citizens of the country of

their residence or habitual residence.

4) Provisions of this article shall also apply to authors and holders of related rights who

have refugee status in accordance with international agreements or laws of the Republic

of Slovenia.

I.2.12 Personal Name Act22

ThisActsetsoutrulesfordesignation,usageandchangingpersonalnamesofSloveniancitizens.

ThroughoutthisActthereareonlyreferencestocitizensandthereisnoreferencetoforeignna-

tionalsorstatelesspersons.

Atthispointitisnotentirelyclearifthescopeofthelawalsoincludesforeignersandpeoplewho

arestateless.Theauthorsofthisstudyare,however,familiarwithonecaseinwhichachildborn

inSloveniawasissuedabirthcerticateinSloveniaeventhoughhewaswithoutcitizenship.This

showsthatcitizenshipisnotarequirementforababybornontheterritoryofSloveniatobeissued

abirthcerticate.Inotherwords,eachbabybornontheterritoryofSloveniaisenteredintothe

birthregisterandisissuedabirthcerticate,regardlessofhis/hercitizenship.

I.2.13 Free Legal Aid Act23

ThisActsetsouttherulesforawardingfreelegalaidandrepresentationinlegalproceduresfor

personswhocouldotherwisenotaffordit.

21 OfficialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.21/1995andsubsequentamendments.22 OfficialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.20/2006.


18



AccordingtoArticle10beneciariescanbealienswithapermanentortemporaryresidencepermit

andstatelesspersonswholegallyresideintheRepublicofSlovenia.Otheralienscanbebene-

ciariessubjecttotheprincipleofreciprocityorinaccordancewithrulesandcasessetoutbyinter-

nationalagreementsthatarebindingonSlovenia.Thisdenitioncouldincludestatelesspersons

whoarenotlegallyresidinginSlovenia.Additionally,statelesspersonscanbeexemptfromtheprincipleofreciprocityaccordingtoArticle3(3)oftheAliensAct.

Furthermore,Article31.aestablishestheauthorityresponsibleforexaminingthepetitionforfree

legalaidandstatesinparagraph2:

If an alien or stateless person, who can be a beneciary under this law, does not have

temporary or permanent residence in the Republic of Slovenia, the petition from the previous

paragraph is examined by a responsible authority for free legal aid at one of the courts that

the petitioner can choose him/herself.

Thisprovisionfurthershowsthatastatelesspersonwithoutaresidencepermitcaninsomecases

(inaccordancewithArticle10)beentitledtofreelegalaid.

I.2.14 Decision on the abolition of visa requirement for recognized refugees,stateless persons and holders of travel documents issued by the third countrieslisted in Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001, Annex II

24

AccordingtothisDecisionrefugeesandstatelesspersonswhoholdtraveldocumentsissuedby

countrieslistedinCouncilRegulation(EC)No539/2001,AnnexII,arenotrequiredtoobtainavisaforstayinginSlovenianterritoryforupto90dayswithinaperiodofsixmonths.

I.2.15 Reciprocity Act25

Thislawsetsoutrulesondeterminingreciprocityincaseswhenreciprocityisarequirementfor

alienstoacquireimmovablepropertyinSlovenia.

Thelawcontainsaspecicprovisionreferringtostatelesspersons,replacingthecountryofna-

tionalitywiththecountryofbirthorcountryofpermanentresidence(Article7.3):

If the alien is without nationality he/she can in the process of determining reciprocity decide

in his/her petition, whether to take into account when determining reciprocity the legal order

of his/her country birth, country of permanent residence or country where the alien had his/

her permanent residence before acquiring a permanent residence permit in the Republic of

Slovenia.

24 OfficialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.19/2010

25 OfficialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.9/1999

19



I.3 Statelessness as a Result of Succession Policies

Following the Dissolution of Yugoslavia

From1947untilthedissolutionofYugoslaviain1991citizenshipregistersinYugoslaviaweread-ministeredonlyontheleveloftherepublicsandtherewasnocentralizedpopulationregister.This

meansthatwhenapersonwasbornintheRepublicofSloveniahis/herrepubliccitizenshipwas

enteredintotheSlovenianpopulationregister.Until1965onlySlovenianrepubliccitizenshipswere

enteredintotheSlovenianpopulationregister.Ifoneorbothofthechildsparentswhoresidedin

SloveniawerecitizensofotherYugoslavrepublicsandsubsequentlythechildreceivedcitizenship

ofanotherYugoslavrepublicaswell,thiswasnotenteredintotheSlovenianpopulationregister.

Thispolicychangedafter1965whentheauthoritiesbegantoenterallcitizenshipsintotherepublic

populationregisters.Forexample,ifachildwasborninSloveniatoSerbianparentsandtherefore

becameaSerbiancitizen,his/herrepubliccitizenshipof SerbiawasenteredintotheSlovenian

populationregister.Thisinformationwasoftennotcommunicatedtohis/herrepublicoforigin.

26

AfterSlovenianindependenceSlovenianrepublicancitizensautomaticallybecamecitizensofthe

newlyestablishedRepublicofSlovenia.AccordingtotheCitizenshipActpersonswhohadtheir

permanentresidenceregisteredinSloveniaascitizensofotherYugoslavrepublics,andde facto

residedinSlovenia,hadtheoptionofapplyingforSloveniancitizenship.Thosewhomissedthis

opportunityorappliedforcitizenshipbutwererejectedbecametheerased.Namely,theau-

thorities considered that if theseindividuals did not become citizens, they had no other legal

(residence)statusinSlovenia,andtheywereremovedfromtheregisterofpermanentresidence.

ManyofthemsubsequentlytriedtoacquireSloveniancitizenshipthroughregularnaturalization.

Insuchcasestheyhadtoproduceevidencethattheyweredismissedfromtheirpreviouscitizen-

ship.However,sincetheinformationenteredintotherepublicpopulationregisterswasnotalwayssharedbetweentherepublics(especiallyincaseswhenchildrenwereborninrepublicAtoparents

whowererepublicancitizensofrepublicB)thepersonapplyingfornaturalizationcouldnotacquire

suchproof.InsuchcasescountryBdidnotevenknowthepersonexistedasallofcialinformation

aboutthepersonwaskeptincountryA.Thiswayapersonseekingcitizenshipwasabletoacquire

neitherSloveniannorotherex-Yugoslavrepubliccitizenship,whichresultedinstatelessness.27

Thedescribedmechanismthatledtostatelessnessisnotdirectlyconnectedtotheactoferasure

fromtheregisterofpermanentresidence.Whilestatelessnesswasaconsequenceoftheincon-

sistentcitizenshippoliciesrstoftheYugoslavrepublicsandthenofsuccessorstatesofthefor-

merYugoslavia,erasurewasaconsequenceofaone-sided,unlawfuldeprivationoflegalstatusofindividuals(theerasureofpeoplefromtheregistryofpermanentresidenceanddeprivingthem

oftheirlegalstatuswasameasurenotforeseeninthenationallegislationneitherbeforenorafter

theindependence).Insomecases,certainindividualssufferedfrombothtypesofrestrictivepoli-

cies,beingwithoutdocumentsandbeingstateless.Thesituationofapersonwhowasstateless

wasworsenedevenfurtherbythedeprivationoftheirpermanentresidencestatus.Bylosingtheir

permanentresidencestatustheyalsolostaneffectivelinkthatwouldenablethemtoacquireciti-

zenshipinthecountryoftheirresidence(countryA)inthefutureundernaturalizationprovisionsof

theCitizenshipAct.However,withoutaregulatedlegalstatusapersondidnotmeettheconditions

foracquiringcitizenship.

26 Pravnividikiizbrisaizregistrastalnegaprebivalstva,mag.N.Kogovekalamon,2011,p.41-42.

27 Pravnividikiizbrisaizregistrastalnegaprebivalstva,mag.N.Kogovekalamon,2011,p.83-85.

20



Inaddition,therearemanycasesamongtheerasedpersonsofpeoplewhowereautomatically

grantedcitizenshipofthesuccessorstateoftherepublicwhosecitizenshiptheyhadbeforethe

dissolutionofYugoslavia.However,sincetheywerelivinginSloveniawithoutlegalstatusand

documents,theycouldnoteffectivelyexercisetheircitizenship.

21



II. Comparing Existing Legislation with

UN Conventions and Other International

Instruments while Identifying Existing Gaps

Inordertomeetthesecondobjectiveofthestudywecarriedoutacomparisonoftheinternational

standardsconcerningstatelesspeoplewithnationallawprovisions.Thekeydocumentinthisre-

spect,whichwasratiedbytheRepublicofSlovenia,isthe1954Convention.

II.1 1954 Convention Relating to the Status

of Stateless Persons

1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, Article 1.1:

For the purpose of this Convention, the term stateless person means a person who is not

considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law.

The1954Conventiondenesastatelesspersonasapersonwhoisnotconsideredasanational

byanyStateundertheoperationofitslaw.UnderthisConvention,itslawdoesnotonlymean

legislation,butalsoministerialdecrees,regulations,orders,judicialcaselaw(incountrieswitha

traditionofprecedent)and,whereappropriate,customarypractice. 28AcomparisonoftheConven-

tiondenitionwiththedenitionintheAliensActraisesaquestionastowhethertheyareincom-

pliance,i.e.whetherthetermlegalactsrestrictstherecommendedinterpretationofthetermits

lawascontainedinthe1954Convention.AccordingtotheUNHCRGuidelinesonStatelessness,

thetermlegalactsseemstobenarrowerthanitslaw,astheformerdoesnotnecessarilycover

sourcesoflawsuchascustomarypractice.

1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, Article 2:

Every stateless person has duties to the country in which he nds himself, which require in

particular that he conform to its laws and regulations as well as to measures taken for the

maintenance of public order.

28 UNHCR,GuidelinesonStatelessnessNo.1.ThedefinitionofStatelessPersoninArticle1(1)ofthe1954ConventionrelatingtotheStatusofStatelessPersons,HCR/GS/12/01,20February2012,http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/4f4371b82.pdf

22



Thenationallawdoesnotspecicallyimposeonstatelesspersonsobligationstoconformtolaws

andregulationsrelatedtopublicorder.Statelesspersonsareconsideredtobeforeignersandfor

somegroupsofforeigners,inordertoretaintherighttostayinthecountry,obligationspursuant

Article61oftheAliensActapply.IntherstparagraphofthisArticleitisstatedthataforeigners

permanentresidencepermitinSloveniamaybecancelledifhe/shewasconvictedforacrimeandwasissuedapunishmentlongerthanthreeyearsorifhe/shethreatensthesafetyofstate,public

safetyorpublicorder.


The Contracting States shall apply the provisions of this Convention to stateless persons

without discrimination as to race, religion or country of origin.

SlovenianlawcontainstheprohibitionofdiscriminationinitsConstitution(Article14)andinseveralorganiclaws,suchastheActImplementingthePrincipleofEqualTreatment.29Article14oftheSlo-

venianConstitutionstatesthateveryoneshallbeguaranteedequalhumanrightsandfundamental

freedomsirrespectiveofnationalorigin,race,gender,language,religion,politicalorotherbeliefs,

nancialstatus,birth,education,socialstatus,disabilityoranyotherpersonalcircumstance.

Therefore,individualsareprotectedongroundsthatincluderace,religionandcountryoforigin

eitherspecicallyorarecoveredwiththegeneralclauseanyotherpersonalcircumstance.The

prohibitionofdiscriminationprotectsallpersonsontheterritoryofSlovenia,includingstateless

persons.


The Contracting States shall accord to stateless persons within their territories treatment at

least as favourable as that accorded to their nationals with respect to freedom to practise their

religion and freedom as regards the religious education of their children.

ReligiousfreedomsinSloveniaareguaranteedbytheConstitutionaswellasbytheReligious

FreedomAct,30whichappliesequallytoallpersonsontheterritoryofSlovenia.Article2ofthe

ReligiousFreedomActstatesthatreligiousfreedominprivateandpubliclifeisuntouchableand

guaranteed(paragraph1);religiousfreedomentailstherighttofreechoiceoracceptanceofre-ligion,freedomtoexpressreligiousconvictionandfreedomtorefuseitsexpressionaswellas

freedomthatanyone,aloneortogetherwithothers,privatelyorpublicly,expressestheirreligion

inservice,education,practice,religiousritualsorinanyotherway(paragraph2);nooneshallbe

forcedtobecomeorremainamemberofachurchoranotherreligiouscommunityorthathe/she

participatesordoesnotparticipateinservice,religiousritualsorotherformsofexpressingreligion

(paragraph3);realizationofreligiousfreedomincludestherighttorefusetoobeyaduty,dened

bylaw,whichseverelycountersreligiousconvictionofa personconcerned,if thisdoesnotin-

terferewithrightsandfreedomsofotherpersons,incasesdenedbylaw.Theconditionsand

29 OfficialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.50/2004and61/2007.


23



procedureinrelationtoconscientiousobjectioninmilitaryservicearedenedbyprovisionsinthe

eldofmilitaryservice(paragraph4);andthestateshallensuretherealizationofreligiousfreedom

withoutinterference(paragraph5).


Nothing in this Convention shall be deemed to impair any rights and benets granted by a

Contracting State to stateless persons apart from this Convention.

InourresearchwehavenotencounteredanyinstanceswherethisConventionwouldbeusedas

anargumenttopreventstatelesspeoplefromaccessingcertainrightsorbenets.Inaddition,this

provisionshouldbeunderstoodasageneralprinciplethathastoberespectedwheninterpreting

theConvention.


For the purpose of this Convention, the term in the same circumstances implies that any

requirements (including requirements as to length and conditions of sojourn or residence)

which the particular individual would have to full for the enjoyment of the right in question, if

he were not a stateless person, must be fullled by him, with the exception of requirements

which by their nature a stateless person is incapable of fullling.

TheanalysisofthenationallegislationinpartIshowsthatstatelessnessisnotveryoftenanel-

ementwhichistakenintoaccountinawardingspecialrightstoaperson.Usuallytheserights

dependonotherconditions,suchasapermanentresidencepermitoraregulatedstatusofaforeigner.Thereare,however,severalcaseswherestatelessnessistakenintoconsiderationand

suchpersonhasonlytofullmorelenientconditions(e.g.thetimeofresidenceinSlovenianeeded

toapplyforcitizenship).AllsuchrightsarespeciedinpartIofthisstudy.


Except where this Convention contains more favourable provisions, a Contracting State shall

accord to stateless persons the same treatment as is accorded to aliens generally.

Thenationallawgenerallytreatsstatelesspersonsunderthesameconditionsasforeigners,ex-

ceptincertaincaseswhenmorefavourabletreatmentisawardedtostatelesspeople.Theonly

caseinwhichstatelesspeopleseemtobetreatedlessfavourablythanaliensistheissueofaccess

toresidencepermits.Thelackofapassportandtheinabilitytoobtainone,whichisoftenaprob-

lemthatstatelesspersonsface,isonereasonwhyaccesstothestatusofaforeignerinSlovenia

ismoreproblematicforstatelesspersonscomparedtoaliens.

24




After a period of three years residence, all stateless persons shall enjoy exemption from

legislative reciprocity in the territory of the Contracting States.

Article3(3)oftheAliensActstatesthatiftheprovisionsoftheAliensActrequiremeetingtheprin-cipleofreciprocity,statelesspersonsmaybeexemptedfromtheobligationssetbytheprinciple

ofreciprocityprovidedthattheyresideinSloveniaforatleastthreeyears.Thedifferencebetween

thenationallawprovisionandtheConventionprovisionisthatthelatterimposesadutyofexemp-

tion,whilethenationallawprovisionsregardingexemptionsareoptional,whichmayormaynotbe

followedbythecompetentauthority.InorderfortheConventiontoberespected,theexemption

shouldalwaysbeimposedbythecompetentnationalauthority.


The Contracting States shall consider favourably the possibility of according to statelesspersons, in the absence of reciprocity, rights and benets beyond those to which they are

entitled according to paragraphs 2 and 3, and to extending exemption from reciprocity to

stateless persons who do not full the conditions provided for in paragraphs 2 and 3.

Oneexampleofmorefavourabletreatmentistheprovisionoftraveldocuments-alienspassports

-whichareexplicitlyavailableforstatelesspeople.Theyarenotgenerallyavailableforforeigners

withacertainnationalityasitisexpectedthattheywouldhavetraveldocumentsofthecountry

oftheirnationality.There are, however, certain problems with the practical implementation of

the provisions that regulate aliens passports, as shown with the example of A.B. in part I.1.2

of this study.


The personal status of a stateless person shall be governed by the law of the country of his

domicile or, if he has no domicile, by the law of the country of his residence.

Undernationallawthedomicileorresidenceofanindividualisconsideredtobegenuinelinkscon-

nectingastatelessindividualwithastate.Forexample,theInternationalProtectionActdenesa

countryoforiginofastatelesspersonasacountrywherehe/shehadhabitualresidencepriorto

seekingasylum(Article2(2)).


Rights previously acquired by a stateless person and dependent on personal status, more

particularly rights attached to marriage, shall be respected by a Contracting State, subject

to compliance, if this be necessary, with the formalities required by the law of that State,

provided that the right in question is one which would have been recognized by the law of that

State had he not become stateless.

Therightsrecognizedunderthenationallawdonotdependonthecitizenshipofapersonbuton

thealienstatusofaperson(i.e.temporaryorpermanentresidencepermittoremain,refugeestatusorstatusofasylumseeker).However,inordertoregulatesomeofthestatuses(i.e.temporaryor

permanentresidencepermit),a passportis required.Whena residencepermitneedsto beex-

tendedonthebasisofmarriage,theabsenceofavalidpassportmaybeahindrance.

25




The Contracting States shall accord to a stateless person treatment as favourable as possible

and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same

circumstances, as regards theacquisition of movable and immovable propertyand

other rights pertaining thereto, and to leases and other contracts relating to movable and

immovable property.

Immovable property:Thenationallawdoesnotonlydifferentiateonthebasisofcitizenshipor

thelackofit,butalsoonthetypeofcitizenship.AccordingtotheConstitution,therighttoacquire

immovablepropertyisgrantedtoforeignersundertheconditionsdenedbylawandinternational

agreementsratiedbytheNationalAssembly.Accordingtotheseagreements,therighttoacquire

immovablepropertyisgrantedtocitizensoftheEU,theEEAandtheUSA.NationalsofEUcandi-

datecountrieshavetherighttoacquireimmovablepropertyundertheprincipleofreciprocity.This

meansthatnationalsofthirdcountries(i.e.non-EUandnon-EEAcountries)aswellasstateless

peopledonothavetherighttoacquireimmovablepropertyinSlovenia.

Acquiringmovablepropertyisgenerallynotlimited,exceptincaseswhenmovablepropertyhas

toberegistered(forexample,inacquiringacar).Insuchcasesthereareseveraldocumentsthata

personneedstosubmit,includinganIDcardandadriverslicence,whichcanbothbeaproblem

forastatelesspersonunlesssuchpersonhasaregulatedaliensstatus.


In respect of the protection of industrial property, such as inventions, designs or models,

trademarks, trade names, and of rights in literary, artistic and scientic works, a stateless

person shall be accorded the same protection in the country in which he has his habitual

residence as is accorded to nationals of that country. In the territory of any other Contracting

State, he shall be accorded the same protection as is accorded in that territory to nationals of

the country in which he has his habitual residence.

InSlovenia,theCopyrightandRelatedRightsActguaranteesthesamecopyrightentitlementsto

statelesspersons(orpersonswhosecitizenshipcannotbeidentied)astoSloveniannationals,

providedthattheformerhaveresidenceinSlovenia.IftheydonothaveresidenceinSloveniaor

suchresidencecannotbeestablished,theyenjoythesameentitlementsasSloveniannationalsif

theyhavetheirhabitualresidenceinSlovenia(Article183oftheCopyrightandRelatedRightsAct).

26




As regards non-political and non-prot-making associations and trade unions the Contracting

States shall accord to stateless persons lawfully staying in their territory treatment as

favourable as possible, and in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens

generally in the same circumstances.

There are no limitations in the national legislation concerning nationality or lack of it for

membership in associations or trade unions. Stateless person therefore have as equal access

to the right of association as other aliens.


1. A stateless person shall have free access to the courts of law on the territory of all

Contracting States.

2. A stateless person shall enjoy in the Contracting State in which he has his habitual

residence the same treatment as a national in matters pertaining to access to the courts,

including legal assistance and exemption from cautio judicatum solvi.

3. A stateless person shall be accorded, in the matters referred to in paragraph 2 incountries other than that in which he has his habitual residence the treatment granted to

a national of the country of his habitual residence.

AccesstocourtsinSloveniaisensuredtoallpeopleonequalfooting.Therelevantactwhichpro-

videslegalaidforpeoplewhoarelackingnancialmeanstopayforalawyeristheFreeLegalAid

Act.ThisActrecognizestherighttofreelegalaidtostatelesspersonswhoarelegallyresidingin

Slovenia.Otherforeignershavesuchrightsundertheprincipleofreciprocityandifsostipulated,

withinternationalagreements.Thisshouldincludestatelesspersonswhoarenotlegallyresiding

inSlovenia,asrequiredbytheConvention.Insuchacasetheindividualwouldreceivetreatment

concerningaccesstocourtsequaltothetreatmentguaranteedfornationals. However, the ques-

tion that remains is what kind of evidence will count as proof that a person is stateless,

which would then allow for them to claim free legal aid under this Act.


The Contracting States shall accord to stateless persons lawfully staying in their territory

treatment as favourable as possible and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded

to aliens generally in the same circumstances, as regards the right to engage in wage-earning

employment.

NationalityisnotdirectlyaconditionofbeingabletoaccessemploymentinSlovenia.Accessto

thelabourmarketdependsontheregulatedstatusofaforeigner.AccordingtotheEmployment

andWorkofAliensAct,apersonwithapermanentresidencepermithasasequalaccesstothe

labourmarketasanational.Apersonwithatemporaryresidencepermithastohaveaworkpermit

inordertohaveaccesstothelabourmarketandeveninsuchcases,nationalshavepriority.Itis

notclearhowapersonwouldbeabletoobtainapermanentortemporaryresidencepermitifhe/

shedidnothaveavalidpassport,norisitclearhowthispersonwouldaccessanalienspassport.

27




The Contracting States shall give sympathetic consideration to assimilating the rights of all

stateless persons with regard to wage-earning employment to those of nationals, and in

particular those stateless persons who have entered their territory pursuant to programmes of

labour recruitment or under immigration schemes.

TherearenospecicprovisionsintheEmploymentandWorkofAliensActthatwouldconcern

statelesspersons.Theirrightswouldnotbeconsideredaccordingtotheirnationalityorthelackof

it,butaccordingtotheiralienstatus.


The Contracting States shall accord to a stateless person lawfully in their territory treatment

as favourable as possible and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens

generally in the same circumstances, as regards the right to engage on his own account inagriculture, industry, handicrafts and commerce and to establish commercial and industrial

companies.

Nationalityisnotaconditionforaccesstoself-employmentinSlovenia.Accesstothelabour

marketdependsontheregulatedstatusofaforeigner.AccordingtotheEmploymentandWorkof

AliensAct,apersonwithapermanentresidencepermithasasequalaccesstothe labourmar-

ketasnationals.Asdiscussedabove,apersonwithatemporaryresidencepermithastohavea

workpermitinordertohaveaccesstothelabourmarketandeveninsuchcases,nationalshave

priority.The problem is again the lack of clarity as to how one would obtain a permanent or

temporary residence permit without having a valid passport and how one would access an

aliens passport.


Each Contracting State shall accord to stateless persons lawfully staying in their territory who

hold diplomas recognized by the competent authorities of that State, and who are desirous of

practising a liberal profession, treatment as favourable as possible and, in any event, not less

favourable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same circumstances.

Onewayanindividualcanpractisealiberalprofessionistoreceivethestatusofanindependent

workerintheeldofculture,obtainedinaccordancewiththeActRegulatingtheRealisationofthePublicInterestintheFieldofCulture. 31Theconditionsforthisstatusdonotincludecitizenship.

However,accordingtotheimplementingact(Decreeonself-employedpersonsintheeldofcul-

ture)theauthoritiesrequirethatapersonprovidesconrmationoncitizenshipandhasaregulated

statusofaforeigner.This means that in fact liberal professions in the eld of culture seem to

be inaccessible to stateless people.Therequirementinthedecreetosubmitaproofofcitizen-

shipspeciedintheimplementingactdoesnotseemtohavelegalbasisintheprimarylegislation

(i.e.intheActRegulatingtheRealisationofthePublicInterestintheFieldofCulture).

31 OfficialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.96/2002andsubsequentmodifications.

28




As regards housing, the Contracting States, in so far as the matter is regulated by laws or

regulations or is subject to the control of public authorities, shall accord to stateless persons

lawfully staying in their territory treatment as favourable as possible and, in any event, not less

favourable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same circumstances.

Accordingto the HousingAct,32onlynationalsinSloveniahavetherighttoaccessnon-prot

rentedhousing,leavingoutallaliens,whethertheyarestatelessornotandregardlessoftheirlegal

status.Inthisrespect,thenationallegislationisnotcontrarytotheConvention(asstatelesspeople

aretreatedasequallybadlyasallaliens)butitiscontrarytotheCouncilDirective2003/109/EC

whichrequiresthatlong-termresidentsshouldhaveaccesstohousingwhichisavailabletothe

public.


The Contracting States shall accord to stateless persons the same treatment as is accorded

to nationals with respect to elementary education.

Thisprovisionisreectedinthenationallaw.AccordingtoArticle10(1)oftheElementaryEduca-

tionActallminorsundertheageof15havetherightandthedutytoattendelementaryschool

underthesameconditionsasnationals,regardlessoftheirpersonalstatusandcitizenshiporthe

lackofit.


The Contracting States shall accord to stateless persons treatment as favourable as possible

and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same

circumstances, with respect to education other than elementary education and, in particular,

as regards access to studies, the recognition of foreign school certicates, diplomas and

degrees, the remission of fees and charges and the award of scholarships.

Accesstoeducationandstudiesis providedtostatelesscitizensunderthesameconditionsas

otheraliens.AlienshavetherighttohighereducationinSloveniaunderthesameconditionsas

nationalsundertheprincipleofreciprocity.TakingintoaccountArticle3(3)oftheAliensAct,state-

lesspeoplemaybeexemptedfromtherequirementoftheprincipleofreciprocityafterresidinginSloveniaforthreeyears.

RecognitionofcerticatesisregulatedintheRecognitionandEvaluationofEducationAct.33This

actdoesnotmentiontheconditionofcitizenshiporthelackofitforadiplomatoberecognized

inSlovenia.



29



Scholarshipsareawardedtoforeignersonthebasisoftheprincipleofreciprocity,accordingto

theHigherEducationAct.Forpracticalimplicationsofthisprinciple,seepartI.2.6ofthestudy.


The Contracting States shall accord to stateless persons lawfully staying in their territory the

same treatment with respect to public relief and assistance as is accorded to their nationals.

Thisprovisionisnotfullyreectedinthenationallaw.Article5oftheSocialSecurityActstates

thatthebeneciariesofthislaw(whichdenestypesofsocialassistance)arenationalsandaliens

whohaveapermanentresidencepermit.Thisincludesstatelessalienswhohaveapermanent

residencepermit.However,alienswhoonlyhavetemporaryresidencepermitonlyhavetheright

tochildbenetsbutnottosocialassistance.Thismeansthatstatelesspeoplewholegallystayin

Sloveniaonthebasisofatemporaryresidencepermitarenottreatedasequallyasnationalsintheeldofpublicrelief.However,thisisallowedbythenextconventionprovision,whichprovidesfor

exemptionsinthiseld.


1. The Contracting States shall accord to stateless persons lawfully staying in their territory the

same treatment as is accorded to nationals in respect of the following matters:

( a ) In so far as such matters are governed by laws or regulations or are subject to the

control of administrative authorities; remuneration, including family allowances where

these form part of remuneration, hours of work, overtime arrangements, holidays with

pay, restrictions on work, minimum age of employment, apprenticeship and training,

womens work and the work of young persons, and the enjoyment of the benets of

collective bargaining;

( b ) Social security (legal provisions in respect of employment injury, occupational diseases,

maternity, sickness, disability, old age, death, unemployment, family responsibilities and

any other contingency which, according to national laws or regulations, is covered by a

social security scheme), subject to the following limitations:

(i) There may be appropriate arrangements for the maintenance of acquired rights and

rights in course of acquisition;

(ii) National laws or regulations of the country of residence may prescribe special

arrangements concerning benets or portions of benets which are payable wholly

out of public funds, and concerning allowances paid to persons who do not full the

contribution conditions prescribed for the award of a normal pension.

(a)Accordingtothenationallegislation(EmploymentRelationshipAct)34allrightsstipulatedinthis

actarerecognizedequallyforallemployedpersons,regardlessoftheircitizenshipstatus.Further,

theEmploymentandWorkofAliensActspecicallystatesinArticle7thatalienswhoareem-

ployedinSloveniainaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthislaw,shallbetreatedequaltonationals

ofSloveniawithregardtorightsanddutiespertainingtotheemploymentrelationship.

34 OfficialGazetteoftheRepublicofSloveniaNo.42/2002and103/2007.

30



(b)IntheeldofsocialsecuritytherelevantactsarethePensionandDisabilityInsuranceAct,the

HealthCareandHealthInsuranceAct,theParentalProtectionandFamilyBenetAct, 35andthe

LabourMarketRegulationAct.36Theseactstreatallemployedpeopleequally(whethertheyhave

citizenshipornot),meaningthatallemployedpeoplehavetopaycontributionstovariousinsur-

anceschemestiedtoemployment.However,therearesomedifferencesinbenetsreceivedfromcontributionspaidtotheseinsuranceschemes.Thesebenetsdonotdependonwhetherornot

apersonhascitizenshipbutonthetypeofresidenceorworkpermitanalienhas.Thebenets

arepaidaccordingtobilateralagreementsconcludedbetweenSloveniaandthirdcountries.A

certainagreementappliestoacertainpersonifthatpersonhascitizenshipoftheothercontract-

ingparty.In the case of stateless persons there could be a problem in beneting from such

agreements, if the agreement stipulated that nationality was the only key to receiving these

benets.SeealsoArticle24.3below.


The right to compensation for the death of a stateless person resulting from employment

injury or from occupational disease shall not be affected by the fact that the residence of the

beneciary is outside the territory of the Contracting State.

Therearenolimitationsinthenationallegislationonobtainingcompensationforthedeathofan

employeewhowasstatelessandhadresidenceoutsidetheterritoryofSlovenia.Suchcompensa-

tionisawardedbycourtsunderthegeneralprovisionsoftortlaw.


The Contracting States shall extend to stateless persons the benets of agreements

concluded between them, or which may be concluded between them in the future,

concerning the maintenance of acquired rights and rights in the process of acquisition in

regard to social security, subject only to the conditions which apply to nationals of the States

signatory to the agreements in question.

Thereisoneprovisionwhichextendsthevalidityoftheagreementonsocialsecurityconcluded

betweenSloveniaandBosniaandHerzegovina.Itstatesthattheinsuranceperiodsarealsotaken

intoaccountforthosepeoplewhoarenotcitizensofBiHiftheywerearepublicancitizenofBiH

beforethedissolutionofYugoslavia.SincestatelessnessinthispartofEuropeisinmostcasesaconsequenceofcitizenshippoliciesofsuccessorstatesoftheformerYugoslavia,thissolutionis

appropriateandcouldapplytopeoplewhoarenowstateless,eventhoughthisisspecicallynot

statedintheagreement.



31




1. When the exercise of a right by a stateless person would normally require the assistance

of authorities of a foreign country to whom he cannot have recourse, the Contracting

State in whose territory he is residing shall arrange that such assistance be afforded to

him by their own authorities.

2. The authority or authorities mentioned in paragraph 1 shall deliver or cause to be

delivered under their supervision to stateless persons such documents or certications

as would normally be delivered to aliens by or through their national authorities.

3. Documents or certications so delivered shall stand in the stead of the ofcial

instruments delivered to aliens by or through their national authorities and shall be given

credence in the absence of proof to the contrary.

4. Subject to such exceptional treatment as may be granted to indigent persons, fees may

be charged for the services mentioned herein, but such fees shall be moderate and

commensurate with those charged to nationals for similar services.

5. The provisions of this article shall be without prejudice to articles 27 and 28.

ThereisnoprovisioninthenationallawthatwoulddirectlyimplementthisConventionprovision

onaccesstodocuments.Ifsuchacaseoccurredinpractice,thenationalauthoritieswouldhave

torefertotheConventiondirectly.


Each Contracting State shall accord to stateless persons lawfully in its territory the right

to choose their place of residence and to move freely within its territory, subject to any

regulations applicable to aliens generally in the same circumstances.

Thisprovisionisrespected.StatelesspeoplewhoarelawfullystayingontheterritoryofSlovenia

(meaningtheyhaveatemporaryorpermanentresidencepermit)havetherighttochoosetheir

placeofresidenceandtomovefreelywithintheterritory.

Statelesspersonswhoareasylumseekershavetherighttoresideoutsidetheasylumhomeiftheir

identityisfullyestablished,ifappropriatelivingconditionsareensuredattheprivateaddressand

ifapersonalinterviewhasbeenconducted(Article83oftheInternationalProtectionAct).Inthis

case,statelesspersonswhoareseekingasylumwouldbetreatedasequallyasallotheraliens

whoareseekingasylum.


The Contracting States shall issue identity papers to any stateless person in their territory who

does not possess a valid travel document.

Inadditiontoalienspassports,identitydocumentsforalienscanbeissuedtoalienswhodonot

haveandarenotabletoobtainatraveldocumentfromanothercountry.However,thecondition

togetsuchdocumentsisthatapersonhasaresidencepermit. Legal residence is therefore acondition for such identity documents, but not for an aleins passport. This condition is not

foreseen in the Convention.

32




The Contracting States shall issue to stateless persons lawfully staying in their territory travel

documents for the purpose of travel outside their territory, unless compelling reasons of

national security or public order otherwise require, and the provisions of the schedule to this

Convention shall apply with respect to such documents. The Contracting States may issue

such a travel document to any other stateless person in their territory; they shall in particular

give sympathetic consideration to the issue of such a travel document to stateless persons

in their territory who are unable to obtain a travel document from the country of their lawful

residence.

ThisprovisionisimplementedbyArticle98oftheAliensActwhichprovidesfortheissuanceof

alienspassportstostatelesspeople.Thisprovisionhasalreadybeenextensivelyanalysedinpart

Iofthisstudy.Astatelesspersonmayobtainsuchapassportifhe/shehasaresidencepermitin

Slovenia.Ifhe/shedoesnothavearesidencepermit,he/shecanonlyobtainsuchapassportifjus-

tiedreasonsareprovided(Article98(2)).Suchapassportisconsideredtobeasanequallyvalid

identicationdocumentasotherpassports.Itusuallyallowsfortraveltoanythirdcountry,unlessitspecicallyallowsonlyfortravelincertainthirdcountries.Thisprovision,eventheoptionalpart,

isthereforefullyrespected.Wehave,however,identiedcertainpracticalproblemssuchasthe

lackofanysuchpassportsbeingissuedtostatelesspersonswhodonothavearesidencepermit

inSlovenia.


1. The Contracting States shall not impose upon stateless persons duties, charges or

taxes, of any description whatsoever, other or higher than those which are or may be

levied on their nationals in similar situations.

2. Nothing in the above paragraph shall prevent the application to stateless persons

of the laws and regulations concerning charges in respect of the issue to aliens of

administrative documents including identity papers.

Therearenoprovisionsinthenationallawthatwouldreectsuchadditionaldutiesdifferentthan

thoseimposedonnationals.

Thesameadministrativefeesapplytostatelesspersonsastootheraliensinissuesconcerning

thestatusofaliens.


1. A Contracting State shall, in conformity with its laws and regulations, permit stateless

persons to transfer assets which they have brought into its territory, to another country

where they have been admitted for the purposes of resettlement.

2. A Contracting State shall give sympathetic consideration to the application of stateless

persons for permission to transfer assets wherever they may be and which are

necessary for their resettlement in another country to which they have been admitted.

TherearenoprovisionsinthenationallawthatwouldreecttheprovisionsonassetsintheCon-

vention.InsuchsituationstheConventionwouldhavetobeapplieddirectlyinordertobere-spected.

33




1. The Contracting States shall not expel a stateless person lawfully in their territory save on

grounds of national security or public order.

2. The expulsion of such a stateless person shall be only in pursuance of a decision reached

in accordance with due process of law. Except where compelling reasons of nationalsecurity otherwise require, the stateless person shall be allowed to submit evidence to

clear himself, and to appeal to and be represented for the purpose before competent

authority or a person or persons specially designated by the competent authority.

3. The Contracting States shall allow such a stateless person a reasonable period within

which to seek legal admission into another country. The Contracting States reserve the

right to apply during that period such internal measures as they may deem necessary.

Asanctionofexpulsionmaybeissuedbyacourtjudgmentasacomplementarysanctioninthe

caseofamisdemeanourforwhichanalienwhoislegallyresidinginSloveniahasbeenfoundre-

sponsibleinaccordancewiththeMinorOffencesAct.

37

ThisActallowsforanappealtobelodgedbyanyperson,includingastatelessperson,andtosubmitanyevidencebeforethecourt.Expul-

sioncanalsobecarriedoutforvariousreasonsrelatingtonationalsecurityandpublicorder,asa

consequenceofcancellingaresidencepermit,asspeciedinArticle61oftheAliensAct.

However,thequestionwouldarisewhereastatelesspersonwouldbeexpelledtoifhe/shedoes

nothaveacountryofhis/hernationality.InsuchcasesthepersonwouldbedetainedintheCentre

forForeigners,unlesshe/shewasgrantedpermissiontoremain(atolerationstatuswhichdoes

not,however,representapermissiontostay,butonlyaprotectionfromexpulsion).SincetheCon-

ventionleavesalargemarginofappreciationinrelationtotheinternalmeasuresallowedinsuch

cases,detentionintheCentreforForeignersmightfallwithinthismargin.However,detentionofan

alien,asprovidedbyArticle5oftheEuropeanConventionontheProtectionofHumanRightsandFundamentalFreedomsshouldleadtoexpulsion,asrequiredbytheEuropeanConvention.Expul-

sionseemstobeoneofthekeyconditionssetbytheEuropeanConventionforthedetentionof

foreignerstobeallowed.Ifexpulsionofastatelesspersonwasnotpossible,theirdetentionwould

notbepermittedundertheEuropeanConvention.Inotherwords,iftheauthoritieswereawarethat

expulsionofapersonisnotpossible,detentionforthesolereasonthatapersondoesnothavea

residencepermitinSloveniashouldnotbeallowed.


The Contracting States shall as far as possible facilitate the assimilation and naturalizationof stateless persons. They shall in particular make every effort to expedite naturalization

proceedings and to reduce as far as possible the charges and costs of such proceedings.

ThenationallawfollowstheConventionprovision.Naturalizationofstatelesspersonsispossible

withinatimeperiodwhichishalfaslongasusual(veyearsinsteadof10years,providedthatall

otherconditionsaremetformoredetailsseepartIofthisstudywherecitizenshipprovisionsare

analysed).

FollowingthecomparisonoftheConventionprovisionswiththenationallawwecanconcludethat

forthemostpart,theConventionprovisionsarerespected.


34



II.2 Other International Instruments Granting Rights to

Stateless Persons