THE SLOVAK postal service company Slovenská Pošta will keep its monopoly for letters up to 50 grams. On February 15, the Slovak parliament adopted a revision to the law on postal services safeguarding its monopoly in this segment. For instance, bills from telecommunications operators fall in this group, the SITA newswire wrote.
The revision arrived from the ruling coalition member the Slovak National Party (SNS) to cover the hole in the legislation.
MPs for SNS Rafael Rafaj, Ján Slota and Ján Chrbet have submitted the bill to prevent alternative postal operators from violating postal exclusivity and winning the most lucrative clients of Slovenská Pošta. Rafaj believes that the measure will help prepare Slovenská Pošta for complete liberalisation.
According to the bill's authors, a monopoly for letters of up to 50 grams is a standard form of cost compensation for postal service companies in the EU. Slovenská Pošta delivers letters to all addresses within Slovakia at acceptable prices and finances hundreds of its post offices. If President Ivan Gašparovič signs the approved bill, it will take effect on April 1.
