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These are usually performances that follow clear rules: After the end of a so-called summit, everyone involved always emphasizes how valuable the exchange was again.

You thank each other politely and emphasize that after the summit there are only things in common and great understanding.

Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) stuck to his role even after the virtual meeting with representatives of around 40 business associations: the conversation was once again "very constructive" and the exchange was "extremely objective".

As usual, Altmaier only heard between the lines that there was a huge crunch between business and their minister.

Altmaier said that he had received an "unvarnished picture of the situation" from the association representatives.

But they did not stick to the usual script in the press conference.

Big disappointment among the associations

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"We would undoubtedly have wished for this economic summit much earlier," said the President of the German Trade Association (HDE), Josef Sanktjohanser.

The summit meeting should have been held "urgently" before the last Prime Minister's Conference (MPK) with the federal government.

The associations offered their expertise at an early stage, and the result of the MPK, in which no clear timetable for opening up the retail trade had been agreed, then also led to "great disappointments".

Even Michael Frenzel, President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry, did not bother to hide his anger, in particular about Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU).

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To cancel the Easter holiday as a blanket now, without at least naming clear criteria such as an incidence value, is tantamount to "stigmatizing the industry from parts of politics", according to Frenzel.

“We need comprehensible criteria,” he demanded.

It is true that he expressly thanked the federal government for the aid payments, which, even in an international comparison, would be better than in other countries.

But: "The aid alleviates the massive consequences of the crisis, but in the long run it is too little to secure the existence of the sub-issues," said Frenzel.

"It's not about promises with data, but about criteria by which you then have to be measured."

Confidence in the minister is gone

But the economy didn't get that at the summit with Altmaier either.

Instead, according to the minister, the only thing that was agreed was that in the next few days they wanted to work out a common concept on how the companies should reopen, and that they would then be brought to the next Prime Minister's conference.

Almost a year after the start of the pandemic, such a paper is still not available.

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How little the associations now trust Altmaier's advocacy in the MPK and the federal government is also shown by the wish expressed by several association representatives after the summit that they want to speak directly to the Chancellor again.

Summits with the Minister of Economic Affairs are apparently no longer enough.

"The Ministry of Economic Affairs is not the federal government," said Sanktjohanser.

"We therefore want to be heard by the federal government."

Frenzel also emphasized that he would be happy if “the dialogue with the Chancellor and the associations is resumed”.

Guido Zöllick, President of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA), reported that entrepreneurs in his branch did not understand that there is still no perspective for a reopening of restaurants and hotels.

"It is increasingly responded with anger and existential worry," he said.

This is also due to the fact that the promised financial aid “continues to arrive only with a delay,” said Zöllick.

In addition, there is still considerable room for improvement in the design of state support.

Hardship Fund should help

Altmaier also tried to calm the minds by setting up a hardship fund in which the federal states, according to information from WELT, are to be provided with 1.5 billion euros by the federal government.

The money should also be able to be used to generously disburse aid to companies that would just barely miss the conditions for funding.

In addition, the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced before the summit that new start-up grants for self-employed people can now also be applied for - but they were announced months ago.

Altmaier also stated that there should also be the next economic summit “around the next MPK”.

"There is well-founded hope that there will be an opening perspective for many areas next time - provided the numbers keep falling," said the minister.

It will also depend on whether everyone will stick to their usual roles after the summit.