So far, less than a billion euros in Corona aid has flowed to small and medium-sized companies. An amount that is many times higher is available. The federal government is blaming the unexpectedly rapid economic recovery. But doubts arise from the FDP.
According to a newspaper report, less than a billion euros of the approximately 25 billion euros in state corona bridging aid for small and medium-sized companies have so far flowed. As the "Augsburger Allgemeine" reported, citing a response from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to a request from the FDP parliamentary group, 954 million had flowed out by mid-October. A total of 92,861 of 128,714 applications were approved.
FDP parliamentary group vice Michael Theurer criticized the low outflow of funds and led it back to hurdles in the application. "That reinforces the prevailing impression: the big ones come with the federal eagle, with the little ones the bankrupt vulture," said Theurer of the "Augsburger Allgemeine".
According to the report, emergency aid for the hospitality industry in the amount of 283.5 million euros makes up the largest single item of the funds paid out. According to this, 21,800 of 29,200 applications were approved and paid out. Of this, 129 million euros went to the accommodation industry such as hotels, guest houses and campsites, 84.5 million euros went to the catering trade, 67 million euros to caterers and catering service providers.
According to the report, 70 million euros have so far flowed into the areas of art, entertainment and recreation in bridging aid. According to this, 58.6 million euros flowed into the trade, almost 50 million euros into the manufacturing industry and around 34 million euros in the field of trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses. Bavaria was therefore at the top with 300 million euros allocated, followed by Baden-Württemberg with 175 million euros.
Economy "recovered faster than expected"
According to the report, the government expects that the lowering of the thresholds for the extension of aid, which has already started, "will lead to a significantly increased outflow of funds compared to the figures for June to August 2020". Applications for the so-called bridging allowance II have been possible since October 21. According to the report, the federal government attributes the previously meager outflow of funds to the fact that the closings and conditions due to the corona pandemic could be withdrawn faster than initially thought. In addition, the economy "recovered faster than expected" from June to August.
FDP parliamentary group vice-chief Theurer criticized this representation: "The many self-employed, who were completely left out because of the design of the aid, should perceive such a statement as an affront," said the economic politician. "The fact that the federal government simply blames the insufficient outflow of funds on the improved economic situation without a more detailed analysis is quite thin in argumentation. According to the motto: If you don't apply, you won't have a problem."
.