The German Green Party politician, Environment Minister Meyer, criticized the planned German-Dutch agreement to expand natural gas extraction in the North Sea, stating it contradicts climate objectives. Meyer highlighted that the German government has declared the gas shortage crisis over, which makes the proposal to indefinitely develop new gas reserves near the Wadden Sea World Heritage site environmentally inconsistent with Lower Saxony’s climate policies.

In response, the State Chancellery of Minister President Lies asserted that the extraction project near Borkum has undergone intensive environmental impact assessments and found no cause for objection. Although both Germany and the Netherlands have signed the agreement, it still requires approval from the Bundestag and Bundesrat before coming into effect.