BERLIN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has explicitly ruled out the possibility of restarting the operation of the controversial Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline.
In a recent interview with German media outlet Die Zeit, which was published on Thursday, Merz was questioned about the future of the pipeline, especially in light of a recent Swiss court decision that prevented Nord Stream 2 operator from entering insolvency, theoretically keeping operation possible.
Nord Stream 2 currently has no operating permit, and that should not change, said Merz.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline runs under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. It was completed but never became operational after Germany halted its certification process in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine.
In September 2022, underwater explosions occurred on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which caused major leaks, rendering three out of four pipeline strings inoperable.
Despite the technical possibility of repairing the pipelines, the German government has ruled out any plans.
During the interview, Merz also indicated a potential confiscation of frozen Russian assets if it is legally possible, while stressing the need to consider the risks such measures may introduce to the European financial market. ■
