Belgium considers Kosovo prison deal for overcrowded jails

As the Belgian government is exploring options to expand prison capacity abroad, Kosovo is emerging as a potential location. Justice minister Annelies Verlinden confirmed discussions are ongoing, though other countries are also being considered.

Belgium’s federal government is examining whether to rent or build prison facilities in another European country to house foreign nationals serving sentences in Belgium. The initiative, outlined in the coalition agreement, seeks to address prison overcrowding and ensure that more sentences are effectively enforced.

Justice minister Annelies Verlinden told parliament on Wednesday that Kosovo is a serious option. However, she noted that adapting facilities to European standards would take time. The estimated cost of a similar deal for Belgium would also be high: 202 million euros over ten years.

Denmark already reached an agreement with the Balkan country in 2022 to rent 300 prison cells there. 

Overcrowding

Minister Verlinden said that discussions are already underway with the federal Migration and Asylum departments to expedite the transfer of foreign inmates. She also highlighted broader efforts to repatriate convicted foreign nationals: diplomatic visits are planned to Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Albania to strengthen cooperation on prisoner returns.

The Kosovo proposal aligns with a wider push to tackle organised crime and prison overcrowding in Belgium. The country’s jails currently hold around 13,000 inmates despite having an official capacity of 11,040. Verlinden’s plans also include keeping older prisons open longer, adding temporary modular cells, and improving prison security to curb criminal activity behind bars.

^{Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden during a plenary session of the Chamber at the federal parliament © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}