Nikolas Farantouris warns EU of defense technology leak risks to Turkey

Greek MEP Nikolas Farantouris has submitted a written question to the European Commission regarding the potential risk of classified defense technology leaks to Turkey. The inquiry follows a European Commission announcement titled ‘Preparing for an Enlarged Union,’ which outlines a roadmap for EU institutional reforms and policy reviews in anticipation of future enlargement.

The working document associated with this roadmap suggests the possibility of gradually integrating candidate countries into European defense financial tools, specifically the ‘SAFE’ and ‘EDIP’ programs. Farantouris notes that Turkey is identified among four candidate countries that are already NATO members, and the document mentions the potential for bilateral agreements with ‘like-minded’ countries regarding these tools.

Farantouris is seeking clarification on whether the Commission is considering Turkey’s participation in SAFE and EDIP, given its low alignment with the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and ongoing disputes regarding the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus. He further questioned how the EU would prevent the leakage of sensitive technology and data, particularly in light of Turkey’s existing defense ties with third countries such as Russia and Pakistan.