German, Greek MEPs urge Merkel to halt deliveries of German submarines to Turkey

More than 50 German and Greek Members of the European Parliament asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel to immediately suspend deliveries of submarines to Turkey. The 53 MEPs are “extremely concerned about Turkey’s threats of military action against EU Member States in the Eastern Mediterranean and fear that Turkey could employ submarines produced in Germany in this conflict."

Thursday December 10 2020 01:07 pm

Duvar English

Berlin should immediately suspend deliveries of submarines to Turkey, more than 50 German and Greek Members of the European Parliament demanded of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a joint letter sent on Dec. 9.

The initiative was launched prior to the European Council meeting scheduled to be held on Dec. 10. At the meeting, EU leaders will discuss the situation in the eastern Mediterranean and relations with Turkey, following the recent escalation of conflict between Turkey and Greece over maritime rights.

According to the letter, the 53 MEPs are “extremely concerned about Turkey’s threats of military action against EU Member States in the Eastern Mediterranean and fear that Turkey could employ submarines produced in Germany in this conflict."

We must show solidarity w/ #Greece & make sure 🇩🇪 weapons are not turned against an EU country! @EUCouncil will meet tomorrow: 53 🇩🇪 & 🇬🇷 MEPs ask #German government to immediately suspend the delivery of submarines to #Turkey - Thank you @MariaSpyraki for the joint initiative pic.twitter.com/rKQgy8vpdQ
— Hannah Neumann (@HNeumannMEP) December 9, 2020

Already in September, the European Parliament had asked EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell to “introduce an initiative in the Council for all EU Member States to halt arms export licensing to Turkey," as long as the country continues its "illegal activities" in the eastern Mediterranean.

The submarines, components and spare parts in question are largely produced by German Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems and assembled in Turkey. The joint letter of the 53 MEPs was written thanks to an initiative led by German Green MEP Hannah Neumann and Greek EPP MEP Maria Spyraki.