Administrative Council of the Council of Europe Development Bank granted Macedonia a loan worth EUR 46 million for reconstruction of penitentiary-correctional institutions, the Implementing Agency of which will be the Directorate for Execution of Sanctions within the Ministry of Justice.
 
At Friday’s press conference, Minister of Finance, Zoran Stavreski informed that the total amount for realization of the Project for Construction of Correctional facilities is EUR 52 million, EUR 46 million out of which is credit from the Council of Europe Development Bank, around EUR 2.5 million is provided from the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia, while the remaining funds are provided from IPA Programme for 2009 and 2010, as well as from theI nfrastructure Project Facility and the Norwegian Government.
 
Funds granted by the Council of Europe Development Bank to Macedonia, as Stavreski pointed out, are another confirmation that reforms, as regards this field and the efforts of Macedonia are recognized by the highest managing body of this Bank, as well as that the European banks express their support to Macedonia in its EU integration process.
 
Conditions under which the funds have been obtained are exceptionally favourable. Repayment period is up to 20 years, including grace period up to five years. Interest rate is exceptionally low, around 1.2%. These are the best possible conditions that can be obtained on the market in such crisis situation, Minister Stavreski said.
 
Minister of Justice Mihajlo Manevski pointed out that the realization of this Project would contribute to changing the appearance of the prisons in Macedonia, i.e. conditions for functioning of prisons according to the European Standards, resocialization and human treatment of convicted persons and creation of optimum conditions for stay and work of convicted persons and employees in prisons, strengthening of health services and health care, employment of new staff and their education will be provided.
 
Prisons Reconstruction Project in the Republic of Macedonia includes renewal, repair and construction of new facilities in PCF -Idrizovo, Educational- Correctional Home – “Tetovo”, as well as in Skopje and Kumanovo prisons.
 
– Project envisages enlargement of PCF- Idrizovo with constructed area of 43,000 square meters, while the present capacity of 900 places will increase by 1,510 persons. New Educational- Correctional Home – “Tetovo” covering an area of 2,640 square meters and capacity of 84 juveniles will be constructed, new facilities covering an area of 12,235 square meters will be constructed in Skopje prison, and the total capacity of the institution will be 634 convicted persons and detainees. Construction of Kumanovo prison will be also completed, with facilities covering an area of total of 5,500 square meters and capacity of 250 persons, Minister of Justice said.
 
To the end of implementing the Project, architectural and urban documentation has been already prepared, as well as urban and design projects for the four institutions. Construction works in the four institutions will start in the first half of 2011, while the Project is envisaged to be implemented by 2015.
 
For the purpose of implementing this Project, starting point of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia was the fulfilment of the standards set in the European Prison Rules of the Council of Europe, UNO Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
