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The climate foundation of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern helps implement Nord Stream 2
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
The Land of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV) is more involved in efforts to launch the Baltic gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 than previously known. The Climate Foundation MV actively assists in the implementation of the pipeline, to the discontent of the US, writes "Handelsblatt".
According to U.S. government circles, to which the "Handelsblatt" has reached, the "Climate and Environmental Protection" Foundation set up by the Land Government and Nord Stream 2 AG "is the owner of a ship taking part in recent work on the completion of the pipeline. It is "Blue Ship", which also appears in the latest U.S. government report to Congress on sanctions".
‘The report does not directly mention the name of the foundation, but indicates that vessel belongs to an organisation related to +the German government+. Washington is currently discussing whether to impose new criminal measures on Nord Stream 2. A dispute over transatlantic sanctions, which seemed to have been settled, enters a new round," writes "Handlesblatt".
The activity of the Mecklenburg Foundation, which has been held in the shadows so far, is also met with harsh criticism from German politicians. "We want this dispute to be settled by the European authorities in accordance with European law," said Mr Reinhard Buetikofer, European politician for the Green Party.
Buetikofer made it clear: "If the Government of the Land of Mecklenburg-Pomor It will be a major breach of the agreement that Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Joe Biden concluded on Nord Stream 2. You wouldn't be complaining if Washington had a sharp reaction."
So far, "Biden has avoided escalation of the dispute. Even recent sanctions are largely symbolic and do not pose a serious threat to the project. In a report on sanctions for Congress, the U.S. government lists penalties against the ship "Marlin" and its owners. "Blue Ship" related to the MV Foundation has been spared," notes the journal.
"The climate foundation was created about a year ago, seemingly to promote environmental, nature and climate protection projects," the newspaper recalls. However, the Land Prime Minister Manuel Schwesig already stressed that a non-profit organization could also contribute to completing the Nord Stream 2 construction. "Whether this opportunity is needed and exploited depends on whether the US will continue to seek sanctions against German and European companies," said SPD policy in January.
"To date, the Climate Foundation has seemed to be an auxiliary structure in case Americans extend sanctions against Nord Stream 2. It could then take over the operation of the pipeline to avoid economic penalties. Now it turns out that the foundation already works" - writes "Handelsblatt".
"The role of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern causes great discontent in Washington. Part of the U.S. government is pushing for more sanctions, because the German side is not ready to take a decisive stand against Russian power policy," the journal stresses.
Written by Berenika Lemanczyk/PAP
