Several programs for Germany have not yet been approved.
(Photo: AP)
Berlin It has to be done quickly. Under no circumstances should politicians repeat the mistakes from the economic stimulus package from 2009, warned Olaf Scholz (SPD) in June 2020, at that time still Federal Minister of Finance, when he presented the economic stimulus program against the corona crisis. The measures now taken to combat the crisis should quickly take effect.
A year and a half later, however, parts of the package of measures are still not in force. Approval from the EU Commission is still pending for four projects from the Corona economic stimulus package, some of which are worth billions. This emerges from a response from the Federal Ministry of Economics to a request from the FDP. It is available to the Handelsblatt.
FDP politician Karsten Klein says: “Ex-Economics Minister Peter Altmaier pursued a pure showcase policy with individual project titles, this is particularly evident in the aviation innovation bonus.” “So the funds have to be used meaningfully elsewhere.”
In the case of many state support measures, the EU Commission has to assess whether there has been a violation of EU state aid law. Only when Brussels has given the green light could certain funding programs or aid packages come into force. This also applied to essential parts of the economic stimulus program from June 2020.
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Many funding programs were delayed because Brussels had not given the green light. And for some projects this is still the case today. For example for the aviation innovation bonus.
Hydrogen projects are on hold
The Federal Ministry of Economics had actually expected a quick decision on the subject in autumn 2020. The Ministry of Economic Affairs said literally on October 5, 2020: “A funding guideline is being drawn up, and notification to the EU is currently underway. Subject to the approval of the EU, applications should be submitted and the first approvals granted in early 2021. “
But that hasn’t happened to this day. So far, only 93,000 euros have been paid out in the budget years 2020 and 2021 – for a study on how the money can best be used. In contrast, 100 million euros were set in 2020 and 175 million euros in 2021.
The aviation award is the largest, but not the only program that has not yet received the green light from Brussels. A subsidy for hydrogen projects planned in the economic stimulus package – “ICPEI Hydrogen -” and a further hydrogen subsidy program with the title “H2Global” are also still on hold today.
A comprehensive aid package for Deutsche Bahn has also not yet been fully implemented. The railway should receive compensation for corona-related loss of income. It is true that the federal government reached a “fundamental agreement” with the EU Commission. But a planned equity increase for the areas of freight transport and infrastructure is still pending. Here a “timely decision is in prospect”.
One could cynically note that the funding would not come too late after all. After all, the corona crisis is still going on.
More: Federal government extends corona aid.