Talks on Reviving Nord Stream Pipelines Are “Absolutely the Wrong Direction”, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck Says

Germany has dismissed the idea of resuming operations of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, with German Economy Minister Robert Habeck stating that reopening Nord Stream 1 or completing Nord Stream 2 is not being considered.

Speaking in Brussels on March 17, Habeck emphasized that any discussions on the matter would be a step in the wrong direction, particularly as Ukraine continues to face Russian aggression.

According to Habeck, reopening Nord Stream 1 or completing Nord Stream 2 is not under consideration. Speaking in Brussels, he emphasized that such discussions are misplaced, particularly while Ukraine remains under Russian aggression.

“Talks about reviving Nord Stream 1 or Nord Stream 2 are absolutely the wrong direction,” Habeck told reporters, as quoted by Reuters.

Nord Stream 1 had been operational since 2011 but ceased functioning in 2022, while Nord Stream 2 was never certified or put into service following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In September 2022, explosions damaged both lines of Nord Stream 1 and one of Nord Stream 2. The incident remains unresolved, with no official attribution of responsibility.

Habeck expressed concern that Germany’s next government might overlook the lessons learned from its previous energy dependency on Russia. He pointed out that the reliance on Russian gas was a result of past political decisions made by Germany’s Social Democrats and Conservatives.

“I am worried that the lesson we learned in 2022 could be forgotten,” he said.

Following the reduction of Russian gas supplies in 2022, Europe faced an energy crisis, leading Germany to diversify its energy sources. Norway has since become Germany’s primary gas supplier.

Despite Russia’s efforts to restore gas exports to Europe, Germany has reiterated its commitment to energy independence. The German Ministry of Economy stated that reducing reliance on Russian gas remains a strategic priority and confirmed that Nord Stream 2 is neither certified nor eligible for operation.

Earlier, Russia used Nord Stream to expand its influence in Germany, investing €100 million annually in soft power. Despite warnings about security risks, Berlin dismissed concerns, and by 2021, Germany’s payments for Russian gas reached €104 billion—about a third of Russia’s military budget.