The Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) is currently reclaiming large amounts of coronavirus aid from artists, often without examining individual cases.
Background:
During the pandemic and the lockdown, various programs were created to mitigate the coronavirus crisis and provide rapid assistance to those affected.
In March 2020, solo self-employed persons, freelancers and micro-enterprises were able to independently apply online for a coronavirus grant of EUR 5,000 from the Coronavirus Emergency Aid II program adopted by the Berlin Senate from state funds and a further EUR 9,000 from federal funds.
This was later followed by other programs where applications could only be submitted via tax consultants or auditors.
Now the recovery notices follow:
The recovery notices of the supposedly unbureaucratic aid programs are often issued in mass proceedings without reference to the individual case.
What’s more:
First of all, communicative access to the authority is made more difficult.
In addition, the reclaims are based on the fact that the persons concerned did not cooperate.
We say clearly:
Well-intentioned but poorly conceived aid programs must not be at the expense of artists!
→ We call on IBB to urgently change its practices.
→ We call on politicians not to place artists under general suspicion.