Small-to-medium enterprises expressing dissatisfaction towards Federal Government decisions
The German SME Association (DMB), based in Düsseldorf, has raised concerns about the performance of the current federal government in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Founded in 1982, the DMB is one of the largest independent interest and economic associations in Germany, with around 33,000 member companies and over 800,000 employees.
According to the DMB's managing director, Marc S. Tenbieg, the federal government must demonstrate its ability to act with clear decisions, understandable time plans, and consistent implementation. The DMB's concerns are echoed in a recent survey of 350 of its members, conducted from August 12-13.
The survey results paint a grim picture, with 45% of SMEs reporting a deterioration in the framework conditions for their companies over the past 100 days. Only 8% of respondents found the measures "adequate", 11% "satisfactory". Around one in ten companies wished for lower energy prices (12%) and lower social security contributions (10%).
The DMB also criticised the communication of the government coalition, stating that it has a negative impact on trust, stability, and planning security. Companies particularly expressed dissatisfaction with the slow implementation of promised support measures.
The DMB, which can be found at www.mittelstandsbund.de, offers a wide range of added-value services to its member companies. It has special thematic expertise in areas such as digitization, succession, finance, internationalization, energy transition, and work & education.
The DMB emphasised the need for the federal government to provide planning security and tangible relief to SMEs. It called for the government to achieve successes in reducing bureaucracy (39%) and cutting taxes (32%) to win the trust of entrepreneurs.
The DMB's survey did not reveal any specific reasons for its dissatisfaction with the black-red coalition's performance in supporting SMEs after 100 days in office. However, typical criticisms from SME associations include insufficient financial aid, bureaucratic hurdles, lack of concrete policies, or slow implementation of promised support measures for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Despite these concerns, the DMB remains both a political mouthpiece and a service provider, independent and performance-oriented. It continues to advocate for the interests of SMEs in Germany.
- The DMB, concerned about the federal government's performance in supporting SMEs, has called for clear decisions, understandable time plans, and consistent implementation from the government.
- The survey results from the DMB reveal that 45% of SMEs have reported a deterioration in their company's framework conditions, with only 8% finding the measures adequate and 11% satisfactory.
- The DMB has emphasized the need for the federal government to provide planning security and tangible relief to SMEs, suggesting the reduction of bureaucracy (39%) and cutting taxes (32%) as key steps to win the trust of entrepreneurs.
