TPG calls for Brussels probe over La Poste postal services
TPG, the Dutch mail and logistics group, has complained to the European Commission that the French government is distorting competition in the postal sector by favouring La Poste, the state-owned French company.
TPG alleges that Paris has discriminated against new entrants in the French express delivery market by harassing them for their use of subcontractors while taking no similar action against La Poste.
Under European Union rules, the Commission is duty-bound to look into such complaints. If it found that the French government had broken single-market rules or granted illegal state aid, it could order Paris to change its behaviour.
Although France has historically resisted the liberalisation of its postal market, the government maintains it treats all competitors in the express segment equally. La Poste also suggests that the problems encountered by other companies may be due to the specific way in which they use subcontractors.
The latest moves come soon after Nicole Fontaine, industry minister, provoked accusations that France unfairly favoured national champions by calling on regional governments to give contracts to Alstom, the engineering group.
In its complaint, TPG says its French subsidiary TNT Jet Services, which uses 1,250 subcontracting companies, has been subjected to a campaign of harassment by French prosecutors and labour inspectors, who argue that the company breaks French labour law by equipping subcontractors with its logo and uniforms.
The company alleges that inspectors have interrogated company officials, employees and subcontractors “at all hours of the day and the night” and threatened both companies and individuals with criminal prosecution.
TPG contends that no similar action has been taken against Chronopost, La Poste’s express delivery subsidiary. It also argues that a 2001 French decree allows a company to oblige subcontractors to use its logo on their vans and wear its uniform.
However, a Chronopost spokeswoman suggested that the two companies’ cases were different because Chronopost did not ask subcontractors to use its uniforms or logos.
A French government spokesman denied that the country was pursuing any campaign against the rivals of La Poste.
Under EU law, the country has opened the express sector to competition, but it has blocked the wholesale liberalisation of the postal services market.
Copyright © 2003: Financial Times Group
