The dubious Schwerin Climate Foundation ends its economic activities to build Nord Stream 2 with millions in profits. However, the state government wants to spend the money from Russian businesses on “humanitarian purposes”.
In all probability, the controversial climate protection foundation MV will conclude its economic activities for the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline with a profit of 5 to 7 million euros. As the foundation in Schwerin announced, all the remaining materials were sold and the ship used to cover the pipeline was also sold. According to the agreements, around 18.5 million euros from the proceeds would go to Nord Stream 2 AG. The rest, in addition to the EUR 20 million foundation money from Nord Stream, can be used for climate protection projects, it said.
According to the foundation, contractual relationships with suppliers and service providers who worked on the completion of the pipeline have been almost completely wound up. As announced, economic business operations could soon be completely ended. According to the foundation, transactions for the construction of the pipeline amounting to 165 million euros had been completed in the previous year.
However, the state government does not want to use the money from Russian gas deals in response to the war of aggression against Ukraine and instead wants to make it available for humanitarian purposes. Her goal is to quickly dissolve the foundation and use her own funds to promote climate protection through the state energy agency.
The foundation was set up by the state in early 2021 to promote climate protection and at the same time to actively support the completion of the Russian-German Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The main financier of the foundation was the Gazprom subsidiary Nord Stream 2 AG with 20 million euros, the state provided 200,000 euros as a contribution.
Critics speak of a sham foundation in which climate protection was only intended to cover up the actual purpose of completing the gas pipeline while circumventing the threat of US sanctions. The line was finally completed in 2021, but did not receive an operating permit from the German authorities due to the Russian attack on Ukraine. A special committee of the state parliament is dealing with the circumstances of the establishment of the foundation and its work under the Social Democratic Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig.
