Assistance: Support for Catering and Events Industry in Oberhausen

Parliamentarian Stefan Zimkeit called for an urgent meeting of the budget and finance committee to tackle the critical predicament confronting the catering and event sector, but the meeting failed to materialize.

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2025 September 11 . 11:19 PM

2 min read

Assistance: Financial assistance or support for the catering and event industry in Oberhausen

Assistance: Support for Catering and Events Industry in Oberhausen

North Rhine-Westphalia Parliament Member Calls for Immediate Aid for Hospitality and Event Industries

In the face of the ongoing umbrella crisis, a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament, Stefan Zimkeit, has been advocating for immediate financial aid for the struggling hospitality and event industries.

Stefan Zimkeit, who represents Oberhausen-Sterkrade and Dinslaken, and serves as the budget and finance spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, has been vocal about the dire situation these industries find themselves in. He has proposed a direct grant equal to two percent of their previous year's turnover to provide much-needed relief.

Zimkeit's concerns stem from the cancellations of events, including Christmas markets, due to the coronavirus crisis, and the potential loss of thousands of jobs in the sector. He has criticised the black-yellow blockade (a term possibly referring to the coalition of the CDU and FDP) for not introducing support measures alongside restrictions that particularly affect certain industries.

The Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia made a decision to reject additional financial aid for the hospitality and event industry, but the specific individuals or parties responsible for this decision are not detailed in the available search results. Despite this, Zimkeit has requested a special meeting of the budget and finance committee to discuss the situation further.

Zimkeit's warnings about the risk of losing public acceptance for restrictions without adequate support measures still hold true. He emphasizes the need for immediate aid for pubs, cafes, and events to prevent irreparable economic and quality of life damage in Oberhausen.

The CDU and FDP have rejected Zimkeit's request for further immediate aid for the hospitality and event industries. Zimkeit anticipates the current situation to continue until spring, allowing for the reopening of beer gardens and outdoor events. However, he fears that numerous bankruptcies could result from the lack of support measures, further exacerbating the economic impact of the crisis.

As the budget committee of the state parliament considers the dire situation of the hospitality and event industries once more, Zimkeit's calls for assistance to these sectors in the context of the ongoing coronavirus crisis remain pertinent.