Overview
- Berlin’s CDU–SPD leaders, who outlined the plan Monday, are drafting a Bundesrat initiative to make every merchant offer at least one digital or card payment option with narrow exemptions for lacking infrastructure, unstaffed outlets, or micro‑business hardship cases.
- Finance Senator Stefan Evers backs the move for greater payment transparency and support for tax offices, as estimates put annual losses from cash‑based evasion in Germany at roughly 15 to 20 billion euros and Berlin audited only 1.2% of cash businesses in 2024.
- Coalition chiefs aim to finalize details for a CDU–SPD caucus on April 20–21 before asking the Senate to press the federal government to amend the Civil Code or the Trade Regulation through the Bundesrat.
- Hospitality group Dehoga warns a mandate would saddle small venues with fees and extra work in areas with weak networks and calls for cost caps or a phased rollout, even as current law already bans surcharges for card or mobile payments.
- The effort lands as Europe rolls out Wero and explores a digital euro no earlier than 2029, and surveys show most shoppers expect card options and many avoid stores that insist on cash only.