Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has agreed to testify before the investigation committee of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament regarding the Climate and Environmental Protection Foundation, but only via video link due to health concerns.

Schröder's lawyer has requested that the session be private, with provisions for breaks, and that it occur from his office in Hanover on October 17, 2025, with the public excluded.

Doubts about Schröder's health diagnosis have emerged after he appeared in good spirits at a political event in May, despite previous claims of severe health issues.

This upcoming session marks the third attempt to question Schröder, with previous efforts hindered by his claims of being unfit for travel and interrogation due to health reasons.

Schröder, who has been chairman of Nord Stream 2 AG's supervisory board since 2016, is a key witness in the investigation into the pipeline's development, which involved significant Russian funding.

Following his political career, Schröder worked for Russian energy companies, including Nord Stream 2 AG, making him central to the investigation into the pipeline's controversial construction.

Committee Chairman Sebastian Ehlers expressed skepticism about holding a private session, emphasizing the importance of public hearings as a constitutional principle, and questioning the justification for a closed session.

Schröder's lawyer expressed irritation over the repeated summons, especially after previous health-related cancellations, highlighting ongoing concerns about his ability to participate.

This will be Schröder's third attempt to testify; previous efforts were canceled due to health issues, including a burnout diagnosis, although recent appearances have raised doubts about his health.

The Climate and Environmental Protection Foundation was established by the state government to secure the Nord Stream 2 pipeline's completion amid U.S. sanctions, but efforts to dissolve it following Russia's invasion of Ukraine have failed.

The foundation was created in early 2021 to support the pipeline's completion despite sanctions, and its dissolution has been unsuccessful despite political pressure.

The inquiry committee was formed to investigate potential Russian influence on Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's decisions regarding Nord Stream 2, with opposition parties hoping Schröder's testimony will shed light on this.

The committee aims to uncover possible Russian influence on decisions related to the now-abandoned pipeline, with Schröder considered a key witness due to his ties to Nord Stream 2.