DIHK President Peter Adrian urges German Basic Law amendment to liberalize Sunday shop hours

DIHK President Peter Adrian argued that Germany’s current Ladenschlussgesetz is outdated and should be modernised by amending the Basic Law. He said the 2009 Federal Constitutional Court ruling, which referred to a “spiritual uplift” on Sundays, is no longer appropriate, stating: “Das Bundesverfassungsgericht hatte sich … ‘seelische Erhebung’ … Nun – das erscheint mir nicht zeitgemäß.” Adrian highlighted that consumers shop online around the clock, while brick‑and‑mortar stores remain bound by strict rules, creating legal uncertainty and high litigation risk for occasional Sunday openings. He called for a constitutional change that would let merchants decide whether to open on Sundays, even on a bi‑weekly basis, and dismissed concerns that Sunday protection would be eroded. The government is also planning to extend opening hours for bakeries, confectioneries and libraries. Any amendment would require a two‑thirds majority in both the Bundestag and Bundesrat.