Kosovo Revives Plan to Lease Prison to Denmark to Alleviate Overcrowding

Kosovo's Cabinet has renewed its efforts to lease a prison in the south of the country to Denmark, with a new draft law seeking to address concerns that led to the failure of an earlier proposal.

Kosovo authorities are determined to assist Denmark in addressing its prison overcrowding crisis by leasing a prison facility in the southern town of Gjilan. The Cabinet has approved a revised draft law outlining the terms of the arrangement, following the rejection of an initial proposal last week.

The draft law envisions the leasing of 300 cells at the Gjilan prison, approximately 30 miles south of the capital Pristina. These cells will be rented to Denmark based on a 10-year agreement signed between the two governments in April and May 2022, according to government spokesman Perparim Kryeziu.

The revised draft was approved by the Cabinet on Sunday and will now be presented to the parliament for a vote. It is expected to be more successful than the previous proposal, which received 75 votes but fell short of the required two-thirds majority.

Under the terms of the agreement, Kosovo will receive 200 million euros (approximately $217 million) from Denmark. These funds will be invested in Kosovo's correctional institutions and renewable energy projects.

Denmark will not be permitted to send inmates convicted of terrorism or war crimes, or those with mental health conditions, to the rented facility. The prison will be managed by a Danish warden, assisted by an Albanian warden and local staff.

Kosovo's prison system has a capacity of up to 2,800 inmates, but the current vacancy rate is unclear. The leased facility will provide a much-needed solution to Denmark's overcrowding problem, which has reached a critical level.

Neighboring Albania has also recently agreed to assist Italy by housing thousands of asylum seekers. This demonstrates the growing trend of European countries seeking innovative solutions to address migration and overcrowding issues.

The revised draft law is expected to be voted on by the parliament in the coming days. If approved, it will pave the way for the implementation of the prison lease agreement between Kosovo and Denmark.