Berlin may delay postal reform

The German government may extend the monopoly of Deutsche Post, the postal company, over delivery of letters beyond December 2007 as postal service liberalisation is less advanced in other European Union countries. The Social Democrats, coalition partner of Angela Merkel, chancellor, favour a postponement of the plan to open the market on January 1 2008, as France in particular intends to open its market at a later date. Ms Merkel’s Christian Democrats, traditionally in favour of early reform, have signalled support for the SPD.