Lithuania to use Norwegian funding to modernise prisons
Lithuania plans to put most of €36 million in Norwegian funding toward modernising prison infrastructure in Vilnius and Kaunas. The rest is earmarked for prison operations and probation services.
Lithuania intends to spend most of about €36 million in Norwegian funding over five years on modernising prison infrastructure in Vilnius and Kaunas, the Lithuanian Justice Ministry has said. The remaining money will go toward improving prison operations and probation services. An agreement on the Justice program is expected to be signed in December, with implementation starting in early 2027 and running through 2030-31.
Where the money will go
Prison infrastructure is set to receive €25.4 million. The funds will equip 160 cell-type detention places at Vilnius prison and 50 at Kaunas prison, and upgrade 41 security and supervision posts.
Another €8.2 million is designated for prison operations. Staff at prisons in Panevėžys, Marijampolė and Kaunas will be trained in a holistic security model and modern working methods. The plans also include advanced electronic monitoring to track the movement of convicts and psychoactive substances, along with an upgrade of the penal system's information system.
Probation services will get €2.4 million. It will pay for a pilot reintegration centre built on a "one-stop shop" model, digital alerts that warn crime victims when people who harmed them are nearby, and electronic monitoring equipment able to detect psychoactive substances. The program also envisages new resocialisation programs for vulnerable groups of convicts and greater involvement of nongovernmental organisations.
Cooperation with Norway
Deputy Justice Minister Martynas Dobrovolskis said particular attention would be paid to staff skills, resocialisation, probation effectiveness and modern technology. "Our goal is to create a safer, more modern system that promotes human integration into society," he said in a ministry statement.
Lithuania will carry out the program with the Norwegian Correctional Service Directorate. The two countries have cooperated for years to modernise the penal system, strengthen rehabilitation and reduce reoffending. Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė discussed progress in these areas with Norwegian counterpart Astri Aas-Hansen last week.
Last December, then-Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas signed memorandums covering €118 million allocated to Lithuania by Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. At that point, €54 million was earmarked for civil protection programs and €55.7 million for justice programs. The three donor countries use the funding to reduce economic and social disparities and strengthen bilateral relations with 15 EU countries in Central and Southeastern Europe and the Baltic states.
