Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) - Small companies in the south-west, which are particularly affected by the high energy prices, can probably apply for hardship aid financed by the federal government from next month. Applications can probably be made to the L-Bank in March, as the State Ministry announced on Tuesday. The Council of Ministers had previously cleared the way for implementation in the country.
As a first step, companies with up to 500 employees could submit an application that generated a minus before interest, taxes and depreciation in 2022 due to the sharp rise in energy prices. Among other things, they must be able to demonstrate that energy costs have at least tripled.
These high hurdles mean that many companies will get nothing, criticized the general manager of the entrepreneurs in Baden-Württemberg, Peer-Michael Dick. For example, it is not clear why companies whose energy costs have “only” doubled and which have slipped significantly into the red should not benefit from the aid.
It is good that progress is finally being made and users of pellets and oil are also being considered, according to the Crafts Day. This is particularly important for crafts in rural regions. "The announced possible application "probably in the course of March" at the L-Bank does not sound like a quick process," complained CEO Peter Haas. It now needs a quick and lean processing.
At the end of January, the Budget Committee of the Bundestag released 375 million euros for hardship support for small and medium-sized companies - but this did not include any help for users of heating oil and pellets. After sharp criticism from business associations, for example, the committee decided that affected companies should receive money from the federal government in cases of hardship. The funds for the hardship regulation will be increased by 25 million euros.
