The Legal Affairs Committee sent Estonian-Swedish prison rental agreement Bill to final vote
The Legal Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) decided today to submit to the plenary for the second reading and final vote the Bill on the ratification of the prison rental agreement between Estonia and Sweden, which creates the basis for the transfer of Swedish prisoners and the enforcement of their sentences in Estonia.
Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Madis Timpson said that during the sitting, members of the Committee had received answers to their questions and confirmation that Tartu Prison was ready to begin accepting foreign prisoners and subsequently open new accommodation sections step by step. Timpson noted that the prison rental agreement enabled to use vacant prison space sensibly, put idle space to work to make money, and create nearly 250 new jobs that support internal security. The Legal Affairs Committee decided to send the Bill on ratification of the Agreement to final vote on 10 June.
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 Stockholm in June last year.
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, to ensure that jobs are preserved in the region and to create new jobs, and to bring at least EUR 30 million in additional revenue to the state budget. According to the explanatory memorandum, the agreement offers Sweden a solution to the temporary overload of its prison system.
According to the agreement, Estonia will only accept prisoners who meet certain conditions, which means that security risks, along with possible prevention and mitigation measures, will have been identified in cooperation between the Police and Border Guard Board, the Estonian Internal Security Service and the Ministry of the Interior. Under the agreement, foreign prisoners will be sent back to Sweden no later than one month before the end of their sentences.
According to the explanatory memorandum, the first foreign prisoners are planned to be placed in Tartu Prison in the second half of 2026. The arrival of prisoners is planned to be organized gradually so that Tartu Prison would have time to make the necessary preparations. In total, the agreement will allow up to 600 prisoners to be transferred from Sweden to Estonia.
According to the Bill, the Agreement will enter into force on the thirtieth day after both Estonia and Sweden will have completed the necessary national legal procedures and will have notified each other thereof in writing.
Deputy Secretary General on Prison Service Rait Kuuse and Head of Prison Department Tiina Unuks from at the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs participated in today’s sitting of the Legal Affairs Committee.
The Bill passed its first reading on 5 November last year. The Committee decided to make a proposal to the Board of the Riigikogu to include the Bill on the agenda for the sitting of 10 June, to conclude the second reading of the Bill and put it to final vote, and thus ratify the Agreement.
The Agreement also requires making amendments to the existing legislation. The second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Imprisonment Act (773 SE), initiated by the Government, is on the agenda of tomorrow’s plenary sitting and the final vote is planned for 10 June.
Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
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