Anyone who thought that the matter would almost be history with the announced resignation of the board of the MV Climate Foundation in autumn could be wrong. Sellering, who is still on the board of directors of the foundation, confirms that the foundation should continue to pursue its climate protection activities in the future.
Schwerin (dpa / mv) – Ex-Prime Minister Erwin Sellering (SPD) is far from giving up on the controversial Climate Foundation MV. In any case, he has not yet withdrawn the application submitted seven weeks ago to the foundation supervisory authority in the Ministry of Justice to change the statutes in order to remove any reference to Nord Stream 2. He still does not consider it legally possible to dissolve the foundation – as Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) is aiming for, as Sellering told the German Press Agency.
Only the area of ??environmental and climate protection should remain in the statute, which Sellering believes should continue to work in the future. Only recently did the foundation advertise its “Buddling for Trees” program, which already existed in 2021. Day care centers are to be supported for the purchase of trees, plants and material with 500 euros each.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department is taking its time. The foundation’s application was received on April 14, a ministry spokesman confirmed at the request of the German Press Agency. “The examination of the legal requirements for an amendment to the articles of association is still ongoing.” The agreement that has since been reached between the state and the foundation should also be taken into account. It is about the announcement by the current board of trustees that he will resign in the fall after the completion of business operations for the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline for Russian natural gas.
Schwesig then wants to appoint a new board of directors to dissolve the foundation. From today’s perspective, the head of government has described the founding of the foundation, which was controversial from the start because of the business operations for Nord Stream 2, as a mistake. The aim at the time was to circumvent US sanctions. Schwesig wants to move the foundation’s climate protection activities to the state energy and climate protection agency (Leka).
Sellering, on the other hand, made it clear that the board of directors was not resigning with the aim of dissolving the foundation. He offered his resignation as CEO to clear the way for a future of the foundation unencumbered by the Nord Stream 2 history, including in terms of staff. “I am not resigning to clear the way for an unlawful dissolution,” he said.
The state’s financial authorities have also been examining the climate foundation for a long time. The question to be clarified is whether the foundation is subject to gift tax. “The test is not yet complete,” said the Ministry of Finance in response to a request from the German Press Agency. Further information could not be given due to tax secrecy.