Sweden to Rent Prison Cells in Estonia Amid Overcrowding Crisis

Historic Agreement Signed Between Sweden and Estonia

Sweden and Estonia have formally entered into a five-year prison lease agreement, allowing Sweden to rent up to 600 prison places in Estonia's Tartu Prison. The agreement, signed on June 18, 2025, by Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer and Estonian Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta, aims to address Sweden's critical shortage of prison capacity.

The deal involves the rental of 400 cells at the Tartu facility, which can accommodate up to 600 inmates through double occupancy. This initiative is a direct response to Sweden's correctional system operating at 96% capacity, or 141% when excluding double cells, largely due to a surge in gang-related crime and stricter sentencing policies.

Financial and Operational Details

Under the terms of the agreement, Sweden will pay €8,500 per month per inmate, a significant saving compared to the average €11,500 per month cost of housing a prisoner in Sweden. All associated maintenance costs, including healthcare for the transferred prisoners, will be covered by the Swedish state.

The inmates eligible for transfer will be men over 18 who have been convicted of crimes in Sweden. They will include both Swedish and foreign citizens, but not Estonian nationals. Crucially, only low-risk prisoners, corresponding to Sweden's security level 2, will be considered. Individuals with high security risks, ties to organized crime or terrorism, or those requiring extensive medical care are excluded from the transfer.

Estonian law will govern the facility, but specific provisions ensure that prisoners retain rights comparable to those they would have in Sweden, particularly concerning occupational activities, visitation, and communication with the outside world. Inmates will not be granted city leave in Estonia and will be returned to Sweden at least one month before their release date.

Political Support and Implementation Timeline

The plan received crucial backing from Sweden's main opposition, the Social Democratic Party, which announced its support on September 25, 2025. This endorsement ensures the necessary three-quarters majority for parliamentary ratification in Sweden's Riksdag, alongside approval from Estonia's Riigikogu. Social Democratic spokesperson Teresa Carvalho described the rental as an 'emergency solution' to provide the Swedish Prison and Probation Service with time to expand its domestic capacity.

The agreement is projected to come into force on July 1, 2026. For Estonia, the deal is expected to generate at least €30 million in additional revenue and secure approximately 400 jobs at Tartu Prison, which currently has around 600 vacant spaces out of 933.

Concerns and Broader Context

Despite the mutual benefits, the agreement has drawn some criticism. Concerns have been raised in Estonia regarding the potential for importing organized crime and negative impacts on local communities. In Sweden, unions have voiced opposition, with Seko's chairman Gabriella Lavecchia criticizing the move as a step towards the 'privatization of correctional treatment.'

This agreement is part of a broader trend in Europe, where countries like Norway and Denmark have previously rented prison spaces abroad to manage overcrowding. The Swedish government, led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, has emphasized the deal as a 'historic' step to alleviate pressure on its prison system.