EU's McCreevy complains to France, Germany, 6 other states over postal services
EU internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy has complained to France, Germany and six other member states over lack of competition in their postal services markets, his spokesman said.
The other countries are Austria, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia, the spokesman said.
‘The commissioner sent a letter to all 27 member states on postal services,’ he said, adding that McCreevy singled out eight countries for criticism.
EU countries have to implement the European Commission’s liberalisation measures by Dec 31, 2010.
The spokesman confirmed that Dutch group TNT NV has filed a formal complaint with the commission against minimum wages in the German postal industry.
The commission is concerned about the minimum wages and a VAT exemption enjoyed by German mail incumbent Deutsche Post World Net AG.
The German government last autumn decided to make minimum wages paid at Deutsche Post mandatory for the whole industry.
TNT claims that the German government is violating EU regulations that ensure free and fair competition among EU members operating across borders.
