SLOVENSKÁ Pošta, the state-run postal operator, filed an appeal on December 17 against a European Commission ruling from October 7, the SITA newswire reported.
The October decision found that Slovakia had illegally extended Slovenská Pošta’s monopoly on the delivery of hybrid mail services, which had until then been open to competition.
Slovakia had until November 8 to inform the Commission about the measures undertaken to ensure that hybrid mail services remain open to competition.
To date, Slovakia has not informed the Commission of any measures taken to comply with the decision.
In its appeal, Slovenská Pošta argues that the Commission’s decision undermines its capacity to fulfil its role as provider of a universal mail service, doesn’t take into account the wider economic and social effects in Slovakia and oversteps the liberalisation of the mail services market that was agreed to take place by 2013, the Sme daily reported.
The appeal doesn’t suspend the ruling and cannot constitute as justification for not implementing the European Commission decision, SITA wrote.
The European Commission’s decision was taken under a special procedure. The Commission must first warn a member country of its violation. If the country’s response is insufficient, the Commission may use an option granted by the EU Treaty to issue a legally-binding decision.
Brussels takes this measure very rarely, Sme wrote.
