Polish Post not threatened by rivals

Last week the Sejm amended the postal law and at the same time set the pace of liberalising postal services by 2006. Courier companies however, estimate that the modification of regulations will not break the monopoly of Poczta Polska (PP). Even though there are 65 postal companies on the Polish market only PP can offer exclusive services, such as delivering parcels weighing less than 500g. As far as those services are concerned the remaining operators are forced to establish prices that are much higher than those of the monopolist. The amendment marks a new stage in the liberalisation for 2006, by which time Poland will fully have to harmonise its laws with those of the EU, which in turn will permit a monopoly only in case of parcels lighter than 50g.