Germany can give companies further state aid in the Corona crisis.

The European Commission extended and expanded the corresponding framework by six months until June 30, 2022 on Thursday, announced the Federal Ministry of Economics in Berlin.

"The Federal Government welcomes the extension and, in particular, the fact that the upper limits for small aid and fixed-cost aid have been increased again."

The outgoing Minister of Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier (CDU) spoke of an important step.

“Unfortunately, the pandemic situation is very serious again in many European countries.

It is therefore right for the European Commission to grant the member states flexibility. ”The economic recovery of the past few months should not be jeopardized.

In Europe, the EU Commission is responsible for distortions of competition that can arise from state aid.

However, the rules have been relaxed significantly in the pandemic.

Germany made the greatest use of this.

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, around 125 billion euros have been paid out to the economy since the beginning of the Corona crisis.

In addition, there would be short-time working benefits of 40 billion euros.

Extend economic aid

In view of the record number of new infections in the pandemic, it is expected that the federal-state consultations this Thursday will decide to initially extend economic aid by three months until the end of March. It is provided for in draft resolutions for the meeting.

Companies that have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic can currently get a large part of their fixed costs reimbursed as part of the bridging aid.

At the moment, this is likely to apply above all to organizers, conference hotels, travel agencies and certain catering establishments.

Norbert Kunz, the managing director of the German Tourism Association, said that the crisis was not over for many companies.

“The industry is currently experiencing increased cancellations or a great reluctance to book.

Large events or Christmas markets are particularly affected. ”Further help is therefore necessary.

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the upper limits for small aid have been increased by EUR 500,000 to EUR 2.3 million.

In the case of fixed cost aid, twelve million euros are now possible, two million more than before.