Greeks doing prison time in other EU countries will soon be allowed to continue their sentences in Greece, whereas non-Greek EU residents in Greek prisons will also be returned to their country of origin. The new bill being prepared by Justice Minister Charalambos Athanassiou will align Greek law with three different EU framework decisions of the Council of the European Union that cater fro mutual recognition of EU criminal judgments that restruct a citizen’s freedom and plan for alternative measures to custody.

The new law will benefit citizens in custody in other countries that their country of origin and will hopefully avert possible prison escapes. It is hoped that the new law will decongest Greek prisons and reduce the expenses of the Greek prison system.