Kosovo renews effort to rent prison to Denmark after initial failure

Kosovo's parliament agreed to rent prison cells to Denmark to help with Denmark's crowded prisons. The parliament voted 86-7 in favor of the deal. The agreement allows Denmark to rent 300 cells in a prison in Gjilan, which is 50 kilometers south of Pristina. This agreement was signed by both countries in April and May 2022. Kosovo will receive 210 million euros from Denmark for this deal. The money will be used to improve Kosovo's prisons and renewable energy projects. Denmark's Justice Minister, Peter Hummelgaard, praised Kosovo's decision as good news. The agreement also states that foreigners sentenced to deportation must serve their time in Kosovo under the same conditions as in Denmark. The treaty allows for the possibility of deporting foreigners directly to their home country after serving their sentence in Kosovo. Denmark cannot send inmates convicted of terrorism, war crimes, or mentally ill prisoners to Kosovo. A Danish warden will manage the facility, along with local staff. Kosovo's Cabinet introduced a new draft law to rent a prison to Denmark to help with Denmark's overcrowded prisons. The first draft of the law did not pass in the parliament, but a new draft was approved by the Cabinet. This new law allows Denmark to rent 300 cells in a prison in Gjilan for 10 years. Kosovo will receive 200 million euros from Denmark for this agreement. The plan specifies that Denmark cannot send inmates convicted of terrorism, war crimes, or mentally ill prisoners to Kosovo. A Danish warden will oversee the 300-cell facility, along with local staff. Kosovo's prison system can hold up to 2,800 inmates, but the current number of vacancies is unknown.