Schwesig Defends actions on Nord Stream 2 Before Investigative committee
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As of December 6th, 2025, 10:10 a.m.- German Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig delivered a combative defense of her actions related to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the controversial Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Climate Protection foundation before a state parliamentary committee of inquiry, concluding 13 hours of testimony from the final witness in the inquiry.
Schwesig, facing scrutiny over potential Russian influence, forcefully rejected accusations leveled by opposition parties, stating bluntly, “You have nothing.” Her two-hour opening statement meticulously addressed emails and conversations previously cited as evidence of undue influence from Moscow, offering detailed explanations of her involvement.
Allegations of Russian Influence
Schwesig vehemently denied any attempts to circumvent potential US sanctions against companies involved in the pipeline’s completion. “And it was always clear what the foundation’s possibilities were; no one was deceived and we were not controlled by Russia,” she stated. She criticized the committee’s formation, pointing out that the CDU, as a former coalition partner, was involved in all relevant decisions.
You can watch a video of Schwesig calling the allegations “conspiracy theories” here: Nord Stream 2: schwesig calls allegations “conspiracy theories” (3 min).
Committee Chairman Disputes transparency
Committee Chairman Sebastian Ehlers (CDU) remained unconvinced,arguing that the extent of the foundation’s business dealings was not fully known to his party while in coalition. “I stick with it, it wasn’t transparent, it wasn’t known that the foundation was buying ships here, that it was itself intervening in the construction as a general contractor and it wasn’t clear that companies outside of MV in particular would benefit from it,” Ehlers explained. he added that the justification of a protective shield for the local economy ultimately proved inaccurate.
The lengthy interview,lasting eleven hours including questioning from MPs,was marked by frequent interruptions as committee members debated the admissibility of questions and reviewed relevant files. Green MP Hannes Damm reportedly posed numerous questions, but Schwesig ofen deferred to her opening statement or claimed a lack of specific knowledge. “I do notice that Ms. Schwesig tries to put the committee under pressure at every point, that she asks for documents, that she doesn’t remember anything until something is specifically shown to her,” one observer noted.
Notably, the committee discovered that no official minutes or notes exist from the majority of Schwesig’s 21 meetings with top Nord Stream representatives. Schwesig justified this by stating that detailed minutes are typically reserved for cabinet decisions and that a complete record of every discussion is not required.
The committee has been investigating the background of the MV Climate Protection Foundation for three and a half years, with Schwesig representing the final of 91 witnesses called to testify. The central question remains whether the state government was unduly influenced by Russia during the pipeline’s construction, and a final report is expected by September 2026, ahead of the state elections.
Schwesig stated that her discussions primarily involved Matthias Warning, the then-head of Nord Stream 2 AG, characterizing these conversations as natural for a Prime Minister engaging with a significant investor. She also emphasized that Gerhard Schröder, the former chairman of Nord Stream 2 AG’s supervisory board, never instructed her to establish the foundation.
Recent meetings of the state parliament’s investigative committee have revealed some unresolved inconsistencies. The Interior Minister, who served as Energy Minister during the pipeline’s planning and construction, is considered a central figure in the foundation’s creation. The 81-year-old testified via video stream regarding the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Climate protection Foundation.
since the committee’s inception in 2022, the press’s access to details has been strengthened, according to Gerhard Bley from Transparency International.
The investigation continues as the committee prepares to deliver its final report, aiming to provide a comprehensive account of the events surrounding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the role of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Climate Protection Foundation.
