Overview

• Alexander von Preen, President of the German Retail Association (HDE), has reiterated his demand for greater flexibility in Sunday store openings across Germany.
• Von Preen specifically criticized the requirement that Sunday openings must be tied to specific occasions, calling for the removal of this restriction nationwide.
• The HDE argues that businesses and municipalities should have the autonomy to decide on Sunday operations based on local needs, without a federally mandated cap on the number of openings.
• Opponents, including Gewerkschaft Verdi and churches, continue to resist expanded Sunday openings, citing concerns over labor rights and societal impacts.
• Von Preen warns that without reforms, economic pressures on city centers will intensify, with 4,500 store closures expected in Germany this year.