The Legal Affairs Committee sent the Bill on the Estonian-Swedish prison rental agreement to the first reading

According to Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee Madis Timpson, the agreement to be ratified by the Bill will enable the reasonable use of empty prison space and create nearly 400 jobs in South Estonia. “Currently we keep unused prison space empty and pay for its maintenance from the taxpayers’ money, but the prison lease agreement will allow us to put idle space to work to make money. The additional jobs will also bring additional tax revenue to the state,” he said, adding that the Committee had unanimously supported the conclusion of the first reading of the Bill.

The Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Sweden on the Enforcement in Estonia of Swedish Sentences of Imprisonment (682 SE), initiated by the Government, will ratify the agreement under which Estonia is prepared to accept Swedish prisoners and enable the enforcement of their sentences in Estonia. The Agreement was signed in June in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Agreement sets out rights and obligations and regulates the enforcement of sentences, prison conditions, as well as the distribution of costs, and supervision. According to the explanatory memorandum of the Bill, the number of prisoners in Estonia is steadily decreasing, while the costs of maintaining prisons remain high. Leasing out prison places will enable Tartu Prison to remain in operation, ensure that jobs in the region are preserved and create new jobs, and bring at least 30 million euros in additional revenue to the state budget. According to the explanatory memorandum, the agreement offers Sweden a solution to the temporary overcrowding of its prison system.

According to the Agreement, Estonia will only accept prisoners who meet certain criteria, which means that security risks as well as possible preventive and mitigation measures have been determined in cooperation between the Police and Border Guard Board, the Security Police Board, and the Ministry of the Interior. The Agreement provides that foreign prisoners will be sent back to Sweden not later than one month before the end of their sentence.

According to the explanatory memorandum, it is planned to bring the first foreign prisoners to Tartu Prison in the second half of 2026. The arrival of prisoners is planned to take place in stages, so that Tartu Prison will have time to make the necessary preparations. In total, the agreement allows to bring up to 600 prisoners from Sweden to Estonia.

According to the Bill, the Agreement will enter into force on the 30th day after both Estonia and Sweden have fulfilled the necessary national requirements and notified each other in writing.

Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta, Deputy Secretary General on Prison Service at the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs Rait Kuuse and Adviser of the Penal Law and Procedure Division of the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs Martin Ziehr gave an overview of the Bill at the sitting of the Legal Affairs Committee.

The Committee decided to make a proposal to the Board of the Riigikogu to include the Bill on the agenda for the sitting of 4 November and conclude the first reading of the Bill. To ratify the Agreement , the Bill also has to pass the second reading.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Legal Affairs Committee sent the Bill on the Estonian-Swedish prison rental agreement to the first reading

Source: Parliament of Estonia