The Belgian government is considering the possibility of building or leasing a prison abroad, likely in the AP of Kosovo and Metohija or in Albania, in order to solve the problem of overcrowding in local prisons, according to “The Brussels Times”.
Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden and Migration Minister Annelinn Van Bossuyt began a three-day mission in the AP of Kosovo and Metohija and in Albania to assess the political readiness for receiving Belgian prisoners and strengthening cooperation in the fight against organized crime, the Brussels newspaper writes.
During the visit to the Balkans, a declaration of intent is also expected to be signed regarding the sharing of confiscated assets acquired through criminal activities, including funds seized as part of the investigations into the encrypted communication “SKY ECC”, the Belgian newspaper states.
The Belgian prison system currently holds over 13,000 prisoners, while the capacity is around 11,000 places, and about a third of the prison population consists of foreigners without a residence permit, which is about 4,400 people.
The Belgian government believes that relocating a portion of the prisoners abroad could reduce pressure on the prison system.
The plan relies on the Danish model from 2021, according to which Denmark leases prison facilities in the AP of Kosovo and Metohija, however, Belgian officials admit that a similar project would require several years of preparation and significant financial resources, the newspaper explains.
According to a study by the Belgian Commissioner for Refugees, the AP of Kosovo and Metohija and Albania are the only territories outside the EU that, as claimed, “meet the conditions for the potential establishment of prison facilities – respect for the rule of law and human rights.”
Although the Belgian government claims that the transfer of foreign prisoners would contribute to relieving the system, analyses show that such a measure could encompass at most about two percent of the total prison population, “The Brussels Times” concludes, adding that, for now, the ministers’ mission is exclusively exploratory in nature.
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Source: Euronews; Photo: Pixabay