Several members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) parliamentary group have expressed concerns regarding proposed cuts to funding for civilian sea rescue operations in the federal budget for 2025. A letter addressed to Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU), reported by Politico on Thursday, details these anxieties.
The letter states, “As members of parliament, we are deeply concerned by the discussion surrounding the planned reduction of approximately 2 million euros in funding for civilian sea rescue in the 2025 budget. We urge you to reconsider your position and advocate for the retention of these funds”. The letter is signed by twelve SPD members, including parliamentary group managing director Derya Türk-Nachbaur, alongside spokespersons for legal, labor and domestic policy.
The parliamentarians emphasize the Foreign Office’s particular responsibility for upholding international law, human rights and humanitarian values. They argue that Germany should demonstrate its credibility within the international community by not reducing support for saving lives at sea.
In separate correspondence, the group is also appealing to the leadership of their own parliamentary faction and key budget negotiators. The letter, addressed to Matthias Miersch, Wiebke Esdar, Thorsten Rudolph and Esther Dilcher, requests continued strong advocacy with the coalition partner regarding this issue.
Furthermore, the members emphasize the importance of publicly clarifying that the proposed cuts are not originating from the SPD. They state that it is the CDU/CSU bloc pushing for the reduction, adding that this clarification is vital for transparency and maintaining trust in their stance.