The German government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz is exploring legal avenues to prevent the reactivation of the Nord Stream gas pipelines that once channeled Russian natural gas directly into Germany. The move, first reported by the Financial Times, reflects Berlin’s deepening concern over renewed efforts to restore the controversial infrastructure.
In correspondence reviewed by the Financial Times, Germany’s economy ministry confirmed it is “currently discussing whether there will be a legal amendment to investment screening” to catch any ownership changes that could facilitate the pipelines’ return to service. The Nord Stream pipelines were severely damaged by underwater explosions in 2022, rendering three of the four lines inoperable. The infrastructure has since become emblematic of Germany’s past over-dependence on Russian energy.
Though the pipelines are controlled by a Swiss-based entity, current German legislation provides limited means to halt ownership changes or prevent technical certification if reactivation were pursued. Officials in Berlin are therefore considering strengthening investment screening laws to close these legal gaps.
The urgency follows Financial Times reporting from March, which revealed that a group of Russian and American business figures with Kremlin ties were actively exploring ways to bring the pipelines back online. Among them is U.S. investor Stephen Lynch, who believes Europe will ultimately return to purchasing Russian gas. Lynch was reportedly invited to a meeting at Germany’s economy ministry on May 6 to discuss his intentions—an encounter that the ministry later said did not involve senior officials.
Germany has all but eliminated its dependence on Russian fossil fuels since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In response to questions from Green Party lawmakers, the government reiterated its support for the European Commission’s goal of phasing out all energy imports from Russia. “Germany already no longer purchases Russian pipeline gas. No Russian LNG is delivered to German LNG terminals either,” the ministry stated.
Despite internal and international pressures, the European Union’s latest sanctions package against Russia failed to pass this week due to opposition from Slovakia. Nonetheless, Chancellor Merz has pushed for a formal EU-wide ban on the Nord Stream pipelines, seeking to incorporate the measure into upcoming sanctions rounds.
Debate in Germany remains heated. While far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) and some politicians within the CDU and SPD have argued for reviving the pipelines to ease energy prices and support industry, the federal government has firmly opposed such moves.
Under current law, Berlin can block foreign investments in critical infrastructure if they pose a threat to public order or security. However, because Nord Stream’s operator is based in Switzerland—a European Free Trade Association member—the deal would not automatically qualify for screening under existing rules.
The pipelines, originally championed by former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder—who maintains close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin—have long been a geopolitical flashpoint. Even before the war in Ukraine, they strained German-American relations, with Washington warning against deepening Europe’s energy reliance on Moscow.
In a statement Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s spokesperson dismissed efforts to block the pipelines as evidence of European “exasperation” with Russia’s sovereign policy, which the Kremlin vows to continue “whatever the cost.”
