In view of the increasing incidence figures in Germany, the federal states are demanding an extension of the Corona bridging aid III Plus beyond the end of the year by a large majority.
That is the result of a query among the state economics ministries and senate administrations, which the chairman of the conference of economics ministers, Andreas Pinkwart (FDP), carried out.
Bridging aid III Plus, the federal government's central crisis instrument, is currently limited to the end of 2021.
The bridging aid is given to companies with a corona-related drop in sales of at least 30 percent.
Fixed operating costs are reimbursed.
"With the exception of Brandenburg and Schleswig-Holstein, all the other states have spoken out in favor of an extension," said the NRW Economics Minister, summarizing the result in a letter to the Executive Minister of Economics, Peter Altmaier (CDU).
Pinkwart spoke out in favor of extending the aid until March 2022.
At the same time, the federal states expressed the “urgent request” to “appropriately extend” the deadline for the final settlement of the corona aid in order to relieve the burden on the approval offices.
Altmaier himself had spoken out in favor of extending Corona economic aid until the end of March last week.
Because of the worsening of the corona situation, the uncertainties have recently increased.
With an extension of the aid the winter months could be covered and a "thread break" in the economic development could be prevented, he explained.
Business associations such as the German Hotel and Restaurant Association had also requested an extension until the end of March.