The statement by German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel regarding Saudi Arabia’s alleged involvement in funding Islamic radicals should be met in a positive way, Helmut Scholz, member of the European Parliament, told Sputnik on Monday.

Earlier in December, Gabriel said that Riyadh had been funding extremist mosques and communities all over the world.

“When Mr. Gabriel as a one of the leading politician of the German government is stating that Germany would no longer turn a blind eye with regard to Saudi Arabia I believe this should be really welcomed,” Scholz, who is a member of Germany’s left-wing Die Linke party, said.

The lawmaker noted that Germany’s future policy on the issue remains unclear and called on the German government “to exercise a strong political pressure on Saudi Arabia obliging the Kingdom to contribute to pacify the regional conflicts.”

Saudi Arabia and Germany are both members of the US-led coalition of around 60 nations that is conducting airstrikes in Syria and Iraq against Daesh (ISIL/the Islamic State), a group that is prohibited in many countries, including Russia and the United States.