Slovak Post claims it has had losses of approximately €2 million since October due to the European Commission's decision on October 7 that Slovakia must reopen its market in the field of hybrid post services, the TASR newswire wrote.
Slovak Post Office objects to the EC's ruling which forbids it from punishing alternative operators for using the designation 'hybrid post' services.
According to Peter Durana from Slovak Post, the EC’s decision threatens its ability to perform some of its roles as defined by law, in particular the provision of universal services across the whole country.
Slovak Post has submitted an appeal against the decision to the European Court of Justice. The Slovak government has fully supported the appeal and will help in legal representation and the preparation of materials.
Slovakia is not the only country in the European Union trying to protect its state-run postal operator. In the Czech Republic, the government extended the exclusive right of its post to deliver parcels up to 50g for four more years. In the Netherlands, the government has helped its state-run firm TNT to maintain its monopoly position.
Total liberalisation on the postal services market in Europe is supposed to take place in 2013. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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