JUSTICE TRENDS JUSTICE TRENDS Nr. 1 | June 2017 | Page 20

EUROPE / EUROPA
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JT: How is the relationship between EuroPris and the
European Commission? Is EuroPris recognized as a reliable
and valuable partner before the European Commission, does
it influence any new policies?
Cuando organizamos conferencias, pagamos por los vuelos y
el alojamiento de los miembros para que puedan tener acceso
fácilmente. Además de la accesibilidad – que era una de
nuestras principales preocupaciones – en los tiempos modernos
necesitábamos un sitio web muy bueno. Nos felicitó la Comisión
Europea de que el sitio web de EuroPris se convirtió en un gran
éxito. Es mucho más que un sitio web, porque incluye, por
ejemplo, un sistema de gestión de documentos y conocimiento
en el que uno puede encontrar información muy interesante
sobre diferentes temas. Trabajamos en un entorno en el que la
ejecución de sentencias está cada vez más cerca. Todo el mundo
habla de reglas estándar europeas, reglas estándar de las Naciones
Unidas, reglas Mandela, y como ejecutarlas en la vida cotidiana.
Así que intercambiamos nuestra información en una plataforma
abierta. No tenemos que reinventar el agua caliente de nuevo, y
una y otra vez, simplemente intercambiar información sin límite
de un país a otro. Sólo cuando es sensible no pedimos que se
disemine en el sitio web y que permanezca confidencial, como
por ejemplo medidas contra la radicalización o el terrorismo.
The Commission relies on us as a partner that
is capable to represent and involve different prison
administrations in the member states, even if
some countries are not yet EuroPris members. ”
HM: I would say even more than that. EuroPris has become a
partner with a “unique selling position” as we represent most EU
countries. The Commission relies on us as a partner that is capable to
represent and involve different prison administrations in the member
states, even if some countries are not yet EuroPris members (as
Greece, Poland or Hungary as examples). When we applied for
an EU grant for the first time, we got the funding for one year. The
next application allowed us to be supported for the duration of three
or four years. I think this is a proof of trust in the work we do as
an organisation. EuroPris is invited to high–level meetings (me as
president, the executive director or one of the general directors).
The EC sees what I like to call operational strike, or force to move
some things in the direction that everybody wants to go.
Before EuroPris this was not possible. Now it is very easy to interact
and that is what the European Commission appreciates. I think.
Last but not least, there is our knowledge of the business... it’s
totally different. we are civil servants but “we have been with our
shoes in the mud”, we have always strived to find solutions, on a
daily basis. I have to say that there is a big respect for what we do.
JT: You are recognized as someone that plans the future ahead and
you brought development through master planning, so we’re talking
about long–term thinking in your prison system. You have prepared
for the digital transformation in prisons and you have innovative
projects in that area also, in the area of inmates’ rehabilitation...
What do you think the main challenges for the future will
be? And on the other hand, how could EuroPris support the
changes?
HM: A lot of prison services in Europe share the
same difficulties concerning their infrastructure. Their
infrastructure is dated from ages ago, from the 19th century many
times. The fact is that the financial resources involved are huge.
Regarding challenges: how can we support change in an
evidence–based way? How can technology be used dynam-
ically and complementary to the traditional custodial way of
working? We are going much more in what we call community
corrections oriented direction, with alternatives like fines, electronic
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JUSTICE TRENDS //  J U N E / J U N I O 2 0 1 7
La Comisión confía en nosotros como
un socio capaz de representar e implicar a
diferentes administraciones penitenciarias
en los Estados miembros, incluso si algunos
países aún no son miembros de EuroPris. ”
JT: ¿Cómo ve a EuroPris evolucionando como organización?
HM: Ahora tenemos 30 miembros y estamos convirtiéndonos en –
y vamo