The Higher Administrative Court in Greifswald has declared invalid a regulation by the government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern concerning Sunday trading in tourist resorts. The ruling, resulting from a complaint by the ver.di trade union, could significantly impact the tourism industry in northern Germany.

Regulation declared invalid

The court ruled that the regulations allowing trade in 76 locations for 38 days a year excessively violate the constitutional protection of Sunday rest.

Successful complaint by ver.di union

The trade union argued that the 2025 regulations excessively interfere with workers' rights, which Judge David Gesche confirmed in the justification.

Shops remain open for now

The ruling is not yet legally binding, meaning shops in seaside resorts can remain open on upcoming Sundays pending any appeal to the Federal Administrative Court.

Reactions from parties

Employers warn of economic losses, while trade unions celebrate success in the fight for workers' leisure time.

The Higher Administrative Court in Greifswald has declared invalid the rules concerning Sunday trading in tourist towns of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The ruling announced on March 12, 2026, is the result of a complaint filed by the trade union ver.di, which challenged the 2025 regulation as being too far-reaching. The court agreed with the social party's arguments, ruling that the existing regulations violate the constitutional protection of Sunday. Despite the issued ruling, shops in resorts can remain open for now, as the judgment is not yet legally binding.

The dispute concerned expanded rules that allowed retail establishments to open their doors to customers in 76 locations, including health resorts, UNESCO World Heritage cities, and recognized excursion destinations. According to the court reporter, the previous regulations allowed trading on Sundays and holidays for a total of 38 days per year. The protection of Sunday as a day free from work has constitutional status in Germany and is based on Article 140 of the Basic Law in conjunction with the Weimar Constitution. For years, legal disputes have been ongoing in individual federal states between trade unions and business organizations over the scope of exceptions for tourist towns (the so-called Bäderregelung). Previous court battles in other regions, including Schleswig-Holstein, often ended with restrictions on the number of shopping Sundays in favor of protecting workers' rights.

The court's decision has sparked extreme reactions among politicians and business representatives. The Minister of Economy for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Wolfgang Blank, defended the existing regulations, describing them as balanced and taking the region's interests into account. Meanwhile, employers' organizations and the MV trade association sharply criticized the ruling, warning of significant financial losses for the tourism industry. A different stance was taken by Daniel Taprogge, Vice President of DGB Nord, who considered the ruling a success in the fight for better protection of employees.

„Wir begrüßen das Urteil des Oberverwaltungsgerichts Greifswald, das den verfassungsrechtlich geschützten Sonntag als Ruhetag für die Beschäftigten stärkt” (We welcome the ruling of the Higher Administrative Court in Greifswald, which strengthens the constitutionally protected Sunday as a day of rest for employees) — Daniel Taprogge via NDR

Timeline of the Sunday trading dispute: March 14, 2025 — New regulation; March 12, 2026 — OVG ruling; March 13, 2026 — Reactions from parties

Mentioned People

  • David Gesche — reporting judge at the Higher Administrative Court of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
  • Wolfgang Blank — Minister of Economy of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
  • Daniel Taprogge — Vice President of DGB Nord