The government said Monday that Kosovo renewed efforts to cope with Denmark’s overpopulated prison system through the submittance of a new draft law on renting a prison in the south of the country to Denmark.
Last week, the parliament failed to pass the first draft of the law. However, on Sunday, the Cabinet approved a draft law on 300 cells at the prison in Gjilan, 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of the , to be rented to Denmark, based on a a 10-year agreement that the two governments signed in April and May 2022, government spokesman Perparim Kryeziu said.
“The Cabinet approved it (the draft law) again yesterday (Sunday) so that it passes on to the Assembly (the parliament) to be voted on again,” he said.
The draft law received 75 votes last week, short of the 80 votes or two-thirds of the 120-seat parliament required to pass.
Kosovo will receive 200 million euros ($217 million), which will be invested in the country’s correctional institutions and renewable energy projects.
According to the plan, Denmark cannot send inmates convicted of terrorism or war crimes, or mentally ill prisoners. A Danish warden will run the 300-cell facility, accompanied by an Albanian one and other local staff.
Kosovo’s prison system can accommodate up to 2,800 inmates. The current number of vacancies could not be immediately determined.
has agreed to hold thousands of asylum-seekers for Italy.