Location advantage - State parliament passes new store opening law: more Sundays
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, more municipalities are to benefit from the possibility of opening stores on Sundays and public holidays in future. The time periods are also to be extended. The state parliament passed a new version of the Shop Opening Act by a large majority on Thursday. This will allow the responsible Ministry of Economic Affairs to issue special permits to other towns and municipalities by statutory order in future. The prerequisite is that the location is of particular importance to tourism. There will no longer be a "rigid list" of municipalities as before, said Interior Minister Christian Pegel, standing in for Minister of Economic Affairs Reinhard Meyer (both SPD), who was ill.
The changes did not go far enough for the FDP. Like the Greens, it voted against the law. The fundamental ban on sales on Sundays and public holidays restricted businesses. "We want more freedom and flexibility," said FDP MP Sandy van Baal, explaining the reasons for the rejection. The Greens complained that the ministry alone decides on the specific exceptions and that the state parliament is left out of the loop.
The new version of the law is a prerequisite for the planned amendment to the so-called bathing regulation, which expires in mid-April. According to this, stores in 62 towns in MV, districts and outstanding leisure facilities are exempt from opening on Sundays from April to October. In other cities, a maximum of four Sundays open for business are permitted per year.
Trade representatives had long been calling for an extension of Sunday opening in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, also with reference to more liberal regulations in neighboring regions. Churches and trade unions, on the other hand, insist on special opening hours that are as limited as possible.
In the opinion of the state government, the new regulation represents an acceptable compromise. It is also in the interests of fair competition in the tourism industry. According to earlier statements by Meyer, the extended legal situation in neighboring Schleswig-Holstein has proven itself. The bathing ordinance there applies for the periods from December 17 to January 8 and from March 15 to October 31. During these periods, stores selling daily necessities are also allowed to open on Sundays and public holidays in selected locations. This should also apply in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in future.
Timetable for the state parliament session with links to laws and motions
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- The new law passed by the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament allows the Ministry of Economic Affairs to grant special permits for store openings on Sundays and public holidays in municipalities that are significant for tourism.
- Despite the support from trade representatives, the FDP and the Greens voiced concerns about the law, with the FDP wanting more freedom and flexibility for businesses and the Greens expressing concern over the Ministry having sole authority to decide on exceptions.
- Christian Pegel, standing in for Minister of Economic Affairs Reinhard Meyer, stated that the changes would no longer require a "rigid list" of municipalities, allowing for more flexibility in deciding which locations benefit from extended store opening hours.
- As a result of this new law, the planned amendment to the bathing regulation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will be possible, allowing for more stores in tourism-focused locations to open on Sundays during specific periods.
- BMWi (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) has previously mentioned that the extended legal situation in neighboring Schleswig-Holstein has proven successful, which could serve as a model for the new regulations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Source: www.stern.de
