Finland and Estonia recently signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance the transfer process for Estonian prisoners currently serving time in Finnish prisons back to their home country. This agreement aims to increase the efficiency of these transfers, thereby alleviating the overcrowding situation in Finnish correctional facilities. The memorandum was signed by Finland's Minister of Justice Leena Meri and Estonia's Minister of Justice and Digitalization Liisa-Ly Pakosta.

The signed memorandum involves commitments from the respective authorities to process transfer requests without delays, facilitating smoother transitions for Estonian inmates. This initiative reflects the Finnish government’s broader policy goal, as outlined in its governing program, which emphasizes the promotion of transferring foreign inmates to their home countries. With Estonia being the largest group of foreign prisoners in Finland, this move is expected to significantly impact both countries.

As part of this agreement, Estonia is also revising its national legislation to eliminate restrictions that previously hampered the acceptance of Estonian nationals serving sentences shorter than six months. This legislative change would further support the implementation of the memorandum, allowing more Estonian prisoners to return home. The successful implementation of these measures could enhance cooperation between Finland and Estonia in terms of criminal justice and rehabilitation of offenders, ultimately aiming for better reintegration of former prisoners into society.