European collaboration with Turkish flights to the civil war in Libya
27.8.2020
Question for written answer E-004680/2020
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 138
Jordi Solé (Verts/ALE), Diana Riba i Giner (Verts/ALE)
Turkey has been sending arms shipment to Libya in spite of the UN arms embargo imposed on Libya [1]. A new investigation coordinated by Lighthouse Reports has now brought to light that EU companies such as the Airbus Group provide logistical support to ongoing Turkish air force flights from Turkey to Libyan territory. The report also shows not only that this support is provided on EU soil, but that at least five EU governments (Spain, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy), as members of the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, participate in the contract with the Airbus Group that allows and facilitates Turkey to continue fuelling the Libyan Civil War [2].
Given that Article 2 of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP establishes the obligation for an export licence to respect sanctions adopted by the UN Security Council, as well as International Humanitarian Law in the country of destination:
- 1.What actions will the Commission undertake to enforce EU law on arms exports and UN resolutions, so that EU Member States stop facilitating Turkish arms exports to Libya?
- 2.When will the Commission open an investigation to clarify whether Member States have facilitated Turkish arms export to Libya?