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Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) warned of the consequences of a possible third corona wave for companies before the meeting with business associations.

“The economy cannot flourish if we get a third wave of infections,” said Altmaier in the ARD “Morgenmagazin” on Tuesday.

Therefore everything has to be coordinated to open up the economy, but at the same time avoid a dramatic situation like in neighboring countries.

Self-tests could definitely help, says Altmaier.

The responsible Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices is hoping for approval of the first corona self-tests in March.

In addition to the self-tests, according to Altmaier, there are “many other levers” that he wanted to talk to representatives of the associations about this Tuesday.

At the Corona “economic summit”, in addition to the resolutions of the federal and state governments, the main focus is on the slow implementation of economic aid.

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The agreement to extend the lockdown to March 7th was heavily criticized in some cases.

Associations criticized, hospitality, tourism and the middle class lacked clear perspectives.

Göring-Eckardt calls for more help for the self-employed

The conference had to be more than a consolation summit, said the chief executive of the German trade association, Stefan Genth.

He expects real perspectives and effective aid packages from Altmaier.

Green party leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt called for more help for the self-employed and freelancers.

"In addition to faster and better support for companies, help for freelancers and the self-employed must finally be placed at the center of crisis policy," she told the German Press Agency.

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Almost every tenth employed person in Germany is self-employed, said Göring-Eckardt.

“How much the federal government lets this part of the economy down is a crisis in a crisis.

For many self-employed people from the cultural sector to taxi drivers, there has been a state of emergency and an existential crisis for almost a year. "

For the bridging aid III, after the start last week, 34.6 million euros have flowed as advance payments by the federal government, as the ministry announced on Monday.

In the case of aid for November and December, six billion euros have now been transferred in advance payments and regular payments.

Lindner demands concrete results

According to FDP leader Christian Lindner, the meeting should be more than a PR event for the federal government.

"Tens of thousands of companies struggling for their economic existence need concrete results from the stagnating economic aid and a reliable opening perspective," said Lindner of the German press agency.

In addition, according to Lindner, the federal government should finally give up its resistance to the expansion of loss carry-back and introduce unbureaucratic depreciation options for seasonal goods in retail.

At the center of the summit must be the binding opening perspective for the economy.

Against the background of the current infection situation, regionally differentiated openings are now appropriate and justifiable.