Kosovo's Cabinet is making efforts to address its overpopulated prison system by proposing a new draft law to rent a prison in the south of the country to Denmark. The initial draft of the law did not pass in parliament last week, but the Cabinet has now approved a revised draft focusing on renting 300 cells at the prison in Gjilan to Denmark. This move is part of a 10-year agreement signed between the two governments in April and May 2022.
The renewed draft law is set to be voted on again in the parliament after failing to secure the required two-thirds majority in the previous vote. If approved, Kosovo stands to receive 200 million euros ($217 million) from Denmark for the rental, which will be allocated towards improving the country's correctional facilities and funding renewable energy projects.
Under the terms of the agreement, Denmark will not be allowed to transfer inmates convicted of terrorism or war crimes, as well as mentally ill prisoners, to the rented facility. The prison will be managed by a Danish warden, supported by an Albanian counterpart and local staff.
Kosovo's prison system currently has a capacity of up to 2,800 inmates, though the exact number of vacancies at present remains undisclosed. In a related development, neighboring Albania has also agreed to host thousands of asylum-seekers on behalf of Italy.
