Sweden reaches 'historic' deal with Estonia to rent prison cells to tackle overcrowding

Published on 05/06/2025 - 18:02 GMT+2

Sweden has reached an statement pinch Estonia to location up to 600 inmates successful rented situation cells successful nan Baltic state successful a bid to alleviate its situation overcrowding crisis.

The deal, which was confirmed connected Wednesday by Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer, will let Sweden to rent 400 cells successful nan situation successful Tartu successful nan south-eastern portion of Estonia.

"Sweden and Estonia person reached an statement that will importantly relieve nan load connected nan Swedish situation system," Strömmer said.

The costs of a captive successful Estonia is estimated to beryllium €8,500 per month, excluding costs for carrier to and from Sweden. In Sweden, nan costs is astir €11,500 per month.

The full situation will beryllium made disposable to Sweden and Estonian rule will use connected site, according to nan agreement. Swedish situation unit will beryllium connected nan crushed to train Estonian guards.

Differences successful nan authorities connected situation sentences successful nan 2 countries person been analysed.

"Estonia is bound by nan aforesaid world commitments arsenic Sweden and location is established practice betwixt nan countries successful nan area of criminal law," a connection from nan Swedish Justice Ministry read.

Certain exceptions person been agreed, truthful that nan acquisition will beryllium akin to that of a Swedish situation sentence, nan ministry added.

Who will beryllium sent abroad?

Whether an inmate tin beryllium sent to Estonia to service their situation condemnation will beryllium assessed connected a case-by-case basis.

Broadly speaking, only men complete nan property of 18, who person been convicted of superior crimes specified arsenic execution aliases intersexual offences will beryllium considered for transfer.

They must not beryllium considered to airs a awesome information risk.

Those pinch an extended request for attraction aliases who are deemed to airs a higher information risk, for illustration those convicted of violent crimes, crimes against nationalist information aliases who person links to superior organised crime, will not beryllium eligible.

Wave of crime

Renting situation places overseas was a cardinal constituent of nan Tidö Agreement, nan authorities statement for nan Swedish conjugation betwixt nan Sweden Democrats, nan Moderate Party, nan Christian Democrats and nan Liberals pursuing nan 2022 elections.

The purpose was to remedy nan shortage of places successful Swedish prisons, caused by a watercourse of inmates arising owed to pack crime escalating successful caller years.

This inclination has resulted successful nan Nordic federation topping nan rankings of deadly weapon unit per capita successful Europe.

Sweden and Estonia negotiated nan woody this spring. An investigation concluded that location are nary ineligible obstacles successful either nan Constitution aliases nan European Convention against renting situation cells abroad.

The statement is expected to beryllium signed successful mid-June. Meanwhile, authorities that makes it imaginable to spot convicted persons successful Estonia is intended to travel into unit connected 1 July 2026.

However, legislative changes must beryllium approved by Sweden's parliament, nan Riksdag, wherever a qualified aliases three-quarters mostly is required.