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Stuttgart (dpa) - Baden-Württemberg's Economics Minister Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut (CDU) calls on the federal government to make improvements to Corona bridging aid III, which companies and self-employed people have recently been able to apply for.

It is appropriate to check whether this instrument could not support companies with an annual turnover of up to 1.5 billion euros, Hoffmeister-Kraut told the German Press Agency on Monday.

So far, only companies with a maximum turnover of 750 million euros are allowed to apply for this state aid.

"However, the current maximum limit is too low for a number of the larger companies - especially in retail - to ensure their survival," said Hoffmeister-Kraut.

The party colleague of Federal Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) also criticized the fact that the bridging aid only reimbursed fixed operating costs based on older sales.

Many small, owner-managed businesses where the owners do not pay a fixed salary do not get enough money.

Even with the simplified restart assistance, they fell through the grid, as this is only aimed at solo self-employed.

It therefore needs a “fictitious entrepreneur's wage” - the green-black state government in Baden-Württemberg had already operated with this instrument.

In addition to the self-employed, small businesses such as hairdressers and cosmetic studios also benefited from this.

Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) has invited more than 40 business associations to an «economic summit» in Berlin on Tuesday.

The meeting should also be about the corona resolutions of the federal and state governments as well as help for the economy.

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With Bridging Aid III, companies and self-employed individuals who are severely affected by the pandemic and lockdown can receive support of up to 1.5 million euros per month for the period between November 2020 and the end of June 2021.

This does not have to be repaid.

The prerequisite for applications is that a company has recorded a drop in sales of at least 30 percent in one month compared to the reference month in 2019.

Fixed operating costs are reimbursed.

There is an exception for self-employed persons who can apply for a one-time flat-rate operating cost allowance ("restart assistance") of a maximum of 7500 euros instead of an individual reimbursement of fixed costs.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210215-99-450631 / 2

Information on bridging aid III