RTL Today - Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: €586 million in Covid-19 aid granted to SMEs since the start of the pandemic

According to the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, the sector is back to where it was before the pandemic.

Checks are reportedly still being carried out to see if any abuses have occurred, Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Lex Delles said on Tuesday morning. So far, incorrect data have only been found in individual cases. The Directorate-General for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises is said to be in contact with the companies concerned, which will eventually have to repay the aid.

In 2021, the number of small and medium-sized enterprises that applied for an "establishment permit" reached a new all-time high, with an increase of about 12% compared to 2020. The majority of the 12,600 applications were registered in the trade sector. It should also be noted that slightly more men than women opened a business.