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On 21 – 22 October 2026, the 22nd meeting of the Round Table of Directors General of Central European Prison Services (MECR) took place in Vienna, which was also attended by the Director General of the Corps of Prison and Court Guard. The event was held under the auspices of the Directorate General for Prison and Probation Services of the Federal Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Austria.
The meeting brought together the highest representatives or their deputies from 13 prison services from Slovakia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Lithuania, Croatia, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary, Estonia, Bavaria, and Romania. This year, Estonia participated in the meeting for the first time as its new member.
Within the main agenda representatives of individual countries presented the current situation in their prison systems, informed about ongoing changes and new measures, as well as about the problems and challenges they are currently facing. The program included expert discussions allowing for a mutual comparison of approaches and the sharing of practical experience.
This year's special theme of the meeting was the mental health of prisoners. This issue represents a significant area of modern prison management, which requires special attention in terms of providing healthcare and psychological care, preventing crisis situations, as well as creating conditions for effective treatment of prisoners.
Regular MECR meetings represent an important platform for international cooperation between prison services. They enable the exchange of knowledge, the sharing of best practices, and the search for common solutions to current problems. Participation in this expert forum also contributes to the development of international relations at the highest level and creates space for gaining experience useful in the further practice of the Corps of Prison and Court Guard.
