Germany's ex-chancellor Gerhard Schröder on Friday slammed a state parliamentary inquiry into the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia as 'ridiculous' and said he did not regret his role in its controversial construction. The inquiry, at the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania regional parliament, is looking into political influence around construction of the pipeline between Russia and Germany and possible Russian interventions in favour of the project. The investigation focuses on the state's Climate Protection Foundation that was allegedly used to shield companies involved in building it from US sanctions.