The colour of money – German postal liberalisation

Deutsche Posts new competitors are stepping up the pressure on the government to abandon its plans to extend its monopoly on certain classes of letter delivery. Under current law, DPs exclusive right to deliver letters of up to 200g in Germany is due to run out at the end of 2002. DPs rivals are saying they will lodge a complaint with the Federal Constitutional Court if the monopoly extension goes ahead. With the support of DIHT, the German federation of chambers of trade and commerce, they have formed an action forum under the name: More Colour in the Post Market. DPs competitors say they set up their businesses in anticipation of a full liberalisation of the postal delivery market. With this in mind, they made a number of investments whose purpose will be wiped out if full liberalisation is delayed, said the German financial paper Handelsblatt.