Schwerin (dpa/mv) – In its investigations into the circumstances of the founding and the work of the Foundation for Climate and Environmental Protection MV, the investigative committee set up for this purpose in the state parliament starts early in history. At its meeting on Friday, the special committee decided to summon the first witnesses. Two former employees of the Stralsund Mining Authority and the head of the authority are to report to the committee on the course of the approval process for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The mining authority was technically responsible for this. As the committee chairman Sebastian Ehlers (CDU) said, the surveys are expected to start in January.
The climate protection foundation was founded in early 2021 by decision of the state parliament. In addition to the public interest-oriented part to support environmental and climate protection projects in the state, the foundation also included an economic business area. This should support the completion of the gas pipeline, which is endangered by sanction threats from the USA. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was completed at the end of 2021, but did not receive an operating license from the German side due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
In addition to the economic commitment, the significant financing of the actual foundation work with money from Russian natural gas deals also caused massive criticism. The Gazprom subsidiary Nord Stream 2 provided 20 million euros. In addition, according to the foundation, its separate economic part concluded contracts with around 80 companies totaling 165 million euros, which were also financed by Nord Stream 2.
There is agreement between the state parliament and the government that the foundation should be dissolved. However, the process has been delayed due to legal issues. The chairman of the board, ex-Prime Minister Erwin Sellering, does not want to give up his office until everything has been legally clarified. The opposition Greens have submitted a motion for next week’s state parliament session calling on the government to dismiss the board of directors. This had already triggered violent reactions from the top management of the foundation in advance.
