Denmark signed an agreement with Kosovo on Wednesday (April 27th) to bring 300 prisoners to Kosovo in a bid to reduce overcrowding in Danish prisons. 

The two countries initially agreed in December that the Scandinavian country would lease 300 prison cells for an annual fee of 15m euros. 

"We have signed an innovative agreement that will provide better capacity in our overcrowded prisons and ease the pressure on our prison officers," Justice Minister Nick Haekkerup said in a statement. 

The prisoners to be sent to Kosovo are foreign prisoners who will be deported after sentencing. They are expected to relocate to a facility in Gjilan in early 2023. 

Last year, the EU country also passed a controversial law allowing asylum seekers to be transferred abroad while their applications are being processed. 

"With this agreement, Denmark is also sending a clear signal to foreigners from third countries who have been sentenced to deportation: your future is not in Denmark, so you should not serve your sentence there," Haekkerup said.