Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001008/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Sander Smit (PPE)
There is a serious prison capacity shortage in the Netherlands; and neither detention centres nor police stations have sufficient space to accommodate newly arrested or detained individuals. In December 2024 the Netherlands Government decided – by way of a temporary measure – that inmates would be released three days earlier than they should be. The capacity shortage is not improving; accordingly, the Government is working on a proposal to extend that period to two weeks. The Netherlands needs measures to be taken that help bring about a structural increase in prison capacity plus faster and more severe sentencing. Until a long-term structural solution is found, interim responses are still needed.
- 1.Can the Commission say in what way it is prepared to coordinate arrangements between Member States in which prison capacity is insufficient and Member States with surplus capacity in order to help mitigate capacity shortages in the Netherlands, among other countries?
- 2.What assistance did the Commission offer the Netherlands last year in this connection?
Submitted: 7.3.2025