BERLIN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Leading German politicians have called for a more aggressive use of economic sanctions against Turkey, the latest sign of swelling tensions between Berlin and Ankara, on Monday.
SPD candidate Martin Schulz reiterated his demands in Rhein-Necker-Zeitung newspaper to give Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an ultimatum regarding the release of German prisoners in Turkey.
If not met by Ankara, the planned expansion of the European Union's (EU) customs union with Turkey should be halted, according to Schulz.
He added that the release of individuals from custody would have to occur within weeks. At least ten German citizens have been imprisoned in Turkey since the country's failed military coup in 2016.
Addressing the subject of German-Turkish relations on Monday, CSU leader and Bavarian Governor Horst Seehofer also called for a complete and immediate halt to EU financial aid for Turkey.
Speaking to Funke media group, Seehofer accused Ankara of "weekly provocations" and demanded that aid tied to Turkey's ongoing accession talks with the EU be freezed.
Around 4.5 billion euros (5.37 billion U.S. dollars) in EU financial assistance are currently earmarked for Ankara between 2014 and 2020.
Turkish EU accession talks have stalled as relations between the bloc and its Turkish neighbor continue to deteriorate. The European Parliament and several senior European politicians have repeatedly called for a formal end to talks.
Traditionally close ties between Ankara and Berlin in particular have come under severe strain in the wake of a failed military attempt to unseat Erdogan in July 2016. Amongst others, the Turkish president has since criticized German politicians for allegedly granting asylum to Turkish revolutionaries.
