Proposition 54K1021

Logo (Chamber of representatives)

Projet de loi portant assentiment à la Convention entre le Gouvernement du Royaume de Belgique et le Gouvernement de la République du Kosovo sur le transfèrement des personnes condamnées, faite à Bruxelles le 18 juin 2010.

General information

Submitted by
MR Swedish coalition
Submission date
April 15, 2015
Official page
Visit
Status
Adopted
Requirement
Simple
Subjects
Kosovo international agreement transfer of prisoners criminal law

Voting

Voted to adopt
Groen CD&V Vooruit Ecolo LE Open Vld N-VA LDD MR PP
Voted to reject
PVDA | PTB
Abstained from voting
PS | SP VB

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Discussion

May 28, 2015 | Plenary session (Chamber of representatives)

Full source


Rapporteur Tim Vandenput

I would like to refer to the written report.


Jean-Jacques Flahaux MR

Mr. Speaker, I will be quick, especially since the Seychelles took us a lot of time.

Our Assembly will ratify a convention with Kosovo, which contains a clear principle: detainees are sentenced in their country of origin. This will be the case tomorrow for Belgians and Kosovars as it is already the case with eighteen European countries as well as with Morocco, Hong Kong, Thailand and, soon, with other states such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic. Discussions are still ongoing on the conclusion and ratification of this type of convention.

The Reform Movement supports the conclusion and implementation of this type of convention, as it enables to considerably facilitate the reintegration of a convicted person in their country of origin. In her cell, she talks to people who understand her, which is not necessarily the case here.

The transfer of convicted persons to their country of origin thus fulfils a humanitarian objective and promotes their subsequent reintegration. It is easier for a prisoner who serves his sentence near his family and cultural environment to find his marks once he has been released.

This applies to our nationals as well as to persons who do not have Belgian citizenship but who have been convicted by a Belgian court.

There is also a second objective in the conclusion of this Convention. We must address the challenges of prison overpopulation in our country. The fact that a person who does not have the Belgian nationality is sentenced outside our territory is one of the answers to this problem.

The MR group therefore supports this policy and will vote in favour of this convention.