The International Conference on “Foreign Nationals in European Prisons” was held in Ter Apel, The Netherlands from May 10-11, 2023. This event provided an exceptional opportunity for first-line practitioners from Ter Apel Prison and international experts, including members of the CEP and EuroPris Expert Group on Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation, to gather and exchange knowledge and best practices.

Laurens Huizenga, Director of P.I. Ter Apel, Gustav Tallving and Petra Pavlas from EuroPris, and Jana Spero, CEP Secretary General, opened the conference. The conference was moderated by Daniel Danglades, a Board Member of CEP.

Over the course of the two-day conference, experts delivered presentations on a variety of topics, including European statistics, deprivation, repatriation, rehabilitation aims, and relevant projects. In addition, there were special lectures covering topics such as cross-border crime, radicalization, and the North African group.

The World café sessions on the transfer of sentences, staff training, and networks/organizations were particularly noteworthy as they provided an excellent opportunity for attendees from various countries to share their experiences and exchange ideas.

Overall, the conference was a resounding success, allowing attendees to expand their knowledge and learn from each other’s experiences in the field of foreign nationals in European prisons.