Posten Norge fined EUR 12.9m
Posten Norge has been fined NOK 102m (EUR 12.9m) by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)’s watchdog ESA. The postal company has been found to have breached EEA competition rules; specifically the infringement of Article 54 of the EEA agreement, by abusing its dominant position between 2000-2006.
The Norway Post reported:
Posten Norge is surprised by the ruling, and is considering appealing to EFTA’s court of appeal.
The case concerns handling of parcels sent by mail-order and e-commerce companies to Norwegian consumers. Posten Norge has had a particularly strong position in this market.
Following a complaint, the Authority has carried out an extensive investigation of the Posten Norge’s exclusivity agreements with certain retail groups and outlets (grocery stores, kiosks and petrol stations) for the establishment of its Post-in-Shop network.
In its ruling ESA states that these agreements entailed that Posten Norge made it difficult for competing suppliers of parcel delivery services from establishing a nationwide, competing delivery network of collection points for their parcels.
