German ministers want to extend Deutsche Post's mail delivery monopoly

Germany’s social welfare minister Franz Muentefering and finance minister Peer Steinbrueck want to extend Deutsche Post AG’s mail delivery monopoly beyond the current Dec 31 2007 deadline, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported, citing unnamed sources.

In a pre-release of an article to appear in tomorrow’s edition, the newspaper wrote that Muentefering is concerned about Deutsche Post’s ability to compete against low-cost competitors that also pay lower wages to their staff.

A spokesman for the minister neither confirmed nor denied the report when contacted by the newspaper.

Sources within the Finance Ministry told the newspaper that Steinbrueck is concerned about Deutsche Post losing its monopoly while rivals in countries such as France and Italy are able to retain theirs.

The newspaper also said debate on the matter within the German government is expected to intensify within the coming weeks.