LISBON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Former German chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday she had no regrets about the course her government took with its energy policy and Russia during her time in power, which critics say left Europe's biggest economy too dependent on Russian gas.Last year, 55% of German gas imports came from Russia, partly the result of Merkel's pursual of trade ties with Russia and backing the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, even after Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"You always act in the time in which you find yourself," she told reporters in Lisbon when asked about her government's approach to Russia.Merkel, who retired from politics last year after 16 years as chancellor, said she had never believed in the notion of 'Wandel durch Handel', or bringing about change through trade.Merkel was speaking on the sidelines of an event to announced the winner of the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, for which she led the panel of judges."