Sweden intends to lease 400 prison cells from Estonia to accommodate an influx of incarcerated individuals.
Ever heard of Bullerbu, a symbol of Sweden's laid-back past? Well, times have changed, and not for the better. Sweden is grappling with a surplus of shady characters and crime syndicates, leaving their prisons bursting at the seams. So, what's a country to do? Rent prison cells, of course - in Estonia! That's right, the Swedes are planning to offload some of their undesirables to their Baltic neighbors.
At a recent press conference, the Swedish Justice Minister, Gunnar Strömmer, announced a potential agreement between the two EU countries, scheduled for mid-June signature. But before this deal goes through, the Swedish parliament needs to give it the green light, with a hefty three-quarters majority to get the ball rolling on July 1, 2026.
So, where's the proposed prison? None other than Tartu, sweet Tartu, Estonia, baby! This joint boasts a whopping 400 cells that can squeeze in up to 600 bad apples, according to Henrik Vinge, chairman of the parliamentary justice committee and member of the Sweden Democrats (wish I could vote there, eh?). Though the Sweden Democrats don't sit in the liberal-conservative government of Ulf Kristersson, they wield considerable political influence, so they're not ones to be ignored.
Sweden won't be shipping away their dangerous dudes, though. They've got enough trouble with them as is. But they're hoping to snag some extra space by transferring the slightly less dangerous dudes to Estonia. Don't worry, though, they won't be sending anyone who's been convicted of terrorist activities or major organized crime. We don't need those guys causing trouble in Estonia, too.
For those keeping score, Sweden's got a pretty crappy problem with criminal gangs that show no signs of letting up. As a result, Swedish prisons are busting at the seams, with Sweden set to pay €8,500 per month for each cell in Tartu Prison, compared to €11,500 in Sweden. Talk about a steal!
Oh, and some Swedish prison staff will be jamming in there, too, to train the Estonian guards, making sure the experience is as Swedish asIKEA furniture and wearing a black which, you know, maintaining Swedish prison standards while toeing the Estonian law line.
Now, you might ask, what about the prisoners causing trouble in Estonia? Well, Sweden has a plan for that, too. They'll be keeping tabs on Estonia's prison system and can revoke the agreement if there are any issues. Heard that, tough guys? You better keep your noses clean, or the Swedes will toss you back in Swedish jail!
Sources: ntv.de, as/dpa
- Sweden
- Estonia
- Prisons
- Organized crime
- Criminals
- In response to their overcrowded prisons and increasing organized crime, Sweden is considering a community policy that would involve renting 400 prison cells from Estonia to house some of their less dangerous criminals.
- The Swedish parliament, under the influence of political parties such as the Sweden Democrats, is expected to vote on a general-news agreement with Estonia for the transfer of prisoners, with a focus on vocational training for Estonian guards by Swedish prison staff to ensure both countries' laws are upheld.
