Minister Van Bossuyt travels to Estonia to explore cooperation on external prison capacity

Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt and Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden today began a two-day diplomatic mission to Estonia. Following earlier initiatives in Kosovo and Albania, the visit aims to explore the possibility of leasing prison capacity abroad for criminals residing illegally in Belgium.

An additional solution to prison overcrowding

Belgian prisons are facing chronic overcrowding, placing severe strain on the justice system. Moreover, nearly one in three inmates does not have legal residence status in Belgium. The federal government is therefore examining additional, sustainable solutions that safeguard both public security and the principles of the rule of law. One of the options under consideration is the use of prison capacity abroad for illegally residing offenders.

“Our message is clear: those who are staying illegally in our country and engage in criminal activity have no future here. Return to the country of origin remains the preferred option. When that is not possible, we look at detention outside Belgium. This not only strengthens the safety of our citizens, but also eases the pressure on our prisons,” Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt explains. She also stresses the strong deterrent effect such external prison capacity can have.

Search for partners

After earlier exploratory visits to Kosovo and Albania, the ministers are now turning their attention to Estonia. To identify European countries that could qualify for external prison capacity, Cedoca, the research unit of the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS), conducted an in-depth assessment. The findings show that Estonia has a robust rule of law and a strong record on human rights, making it a credible partner for cooperation.

The programme includes meetings with Estonia’s Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, Liisa-Ly Pakosta, as well as a visit to a prison facility in Tallinn. Estonia is internationally recognised for its highly digitalised justice and prison system and has previously entered into a similar cooperation arrangement with Sweden.