The controversial climate foundation MV has to disclose the names of the companies involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. “Unfortunately, the Federal Constitutional Court did not accept our complaint. We very much regret that. Contrary to our firm conviction, we will now have to name the names of many companies from MV,” said Erwin Sellering (SPD), board member of the foundation, on Thursday in Schwerin. From his point of view, the companies have nothing to blame, they have acted lawfully.
The Federal Constitutional Court confirmed that the constitutional complaint filed at the end of October was not accepted for decision by decision of November 22nd. A spokesman said on request that the urgent application had also been dealt with.
WELT and “Bild” had demanded that the names be named and went to court for this. Both the district court in Schwerin and, on appeal, the higher regional court in Rostock had determined that the foundation had a duty to provide information. By going before the highest German court, Sellering wanted to prevent the names of the companies she had commissioned to support the pipeline construction from becoming public and causing them disadvantages.
FDP faction leader René Domke welcomed the decision: “One act of farce about the climate protection foundation MV is now over.” From his point of view it is not about pillorying companies, but the public has a right to know who is economically, was financially and politically involved in the pipeline project. The AfD also welcomed the decision. Now the parliamentary committee of inquiry can fully carry out its work, it said.
Both the FDP and the AfD still see unanswered questions about the role of the state government in setting up the foundation: “Without certain knowledge, you cannot understand the entire development and decision-making process or the execution and completion of the project,” says Domke.
The Climate Foundation – which itself was largely financed by money from the Russian gas business – had commissioned companies to ensure the completion of the German-Russian gas pipeline through a specially founded commercial business.
