Steinburg county, Germany – Gastronomers in the Steinburg district of Schleswig-Holstein are preparing to formally contest demands for the repayment of emergency COVID-19 financial aid, following a meeting of the Dehoga (German Hotel and Restaurant Association) Kreisverband Steinburg in Breitenburg on February 15, 2026. The move comes as the association prepares a formal objection to be submitted at the state level.
The meeting, held at Brüdigams Bistro, addressed concerns beyond the current 7 percent value-added tax rate for the hospitality sector. Frank Prüß, the Steinburg Verbandsvorsitzender and Barbara Oechsle, a member of the board, welcomed Andreas Tedsen, the newly appointed Geschäftsführer of the Dehoga Landesverband, to the assembly. The primary focus of discussion centered on the impending repayment requests for Corona-era financial assistance.
The impetus for the planned objection stems from recent rulings by the Verwaltungsgerichtshof (VGH) Mannheim, which determined that the recovery of Corona Soforthilfe (immediate aid) funds by the L-Bank, a state-owned development bank, was unlawful in several test cases. According to a statement released by DEHOGA Baden-Württemberg on September 10, 2025, these rulings have prompted numerous inquiries from members facing repayment demands.
DEHOGA Baden-Württemberg has published a FAQ document to address member concerns, but cautioned that individual cases cannot be assessed or recommendations provided until clarity is established regarding comparable circumstances. Fritz Engelhardt, DEHOGA Landesvorsitzender, stated that the VGH decision is “a good message for many businesses in the hospitality sector” and that the L-Bank should cease pursuing similar cases currently on hold.
The association is also calling on policymakers to find a resolution for cases already settled, arguing that businesses should not be penalized for relying on what were initially considered legitimate application requirements for the aid. Engelhardt emphasized the need for a “just solution” to alleviate the financial burden imposed by the repayments.
During the Dehoga Kreisverband Steinburg meeting, local painter Jens Rusch also presented his “Kulinarische Inklusion” (Culinary Inclusion) project, though details of the project were not disclosed. The focus remained firmly on the legal challenge to the aid repayment demands.
As of February 15, 2026, the L-Bank has not issued a public response to the VGH rulings or DEHOGA’s call to halt further recovery efforts. The next steps for the Dehoga Landesverband’s formal objection remain to be announced.