German government plans to prolong beyond 2002 the monopoly held by Deutsche Post AG

(Bundesregierung will das Briefmonopol verlangern)
From FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, February 10th, 2001
The German government plans to prolong beyond 2002 the monopoly held by Deutsche Post AG, the post office, in the delivery of letters and bulk mail, but will impose limitations. Currently, Deutsche Post has a monopoly on letters weighing up to 200 grams and bulk mail up to 50 grams. After 2002, the exclusive licence will not be adhered to rigidly, and the maximum weight limits may be lowered.
To date, under legislation governing the postal sector in Germany, it has been envisaged that the exclusive licence held by Deutsche Post for the abovementioned categories of mail would expire on 31 December 2002. The prolonging of the monopoly follows a general hesitancy in EU countries to deregulate telecommunications fully in the immediate future. Legislation governing telecommunications in Germany will not be altered before end-2002 or early 2003.
Abstracted from Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in German FT McCarthy – Copyright 2001 Financial Times Information. Source: World Reporter (Trade Mark).
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, 10th February 2001