Deutsche Post asked by Govt to pay back 572 mln Eur in subsidies
The government has demanded Deutsche Post World Net AG
pay back by Jan 1 some 572 mln eur plus interest following the European Commission’s July
decision on illegal state subsidy, a company spokesman said.
“The letter came yesterday. The EU has asked the German government to demand payment from us and that was done by the government,” the spokesman said.
“But we are legally examining the basis of this demand from the government,” he added.
He said the company has already filed an appeal before the European Court of First Instance contesting the commission’s decision regarding alleged state aid to Deutsche Post.
“This appeal could take years,” he added.
The commission last July said its investigations showed there was “cross-subsidy” in that the letter operations — which enjoy from the state monopoly rights for letters weighing up to 200 grams — enabled the company to subsidise its parcel services.
The company’s stance has been there is no state aid and pointed out to procedural errors in the commission’s decision.
It has however taken a one-off provision of 850 mln eur for the full year following the EU decision.
