EU examines complaint over govt aid to Belgian postal service

The European Commission said it is examining a complaint made by several newspaper suppliers over alleged state aid earmarked by the government for a new distribution system set up by Belgium’s postal service.

‘We are examining this complaint to see whether we will open an in-depth inquiry,’ said a spokesman for EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes.

The news confirms reports in financial daily De Tijd.

According to the newspaper, Belgium’s postal service secured an agreement with the government and newspaper editors in April 2004 to distribute newspapers before 8.30 am CET from the start of 2006.

The service spent 10 mln eur to set up a new distribution system and the government agreed to take on a third of the costs, said the report.

Competitors to the Belgian postal service include Belgique Diffusion, Vadi and Deltamedia.
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