EU opens antitrust case against Slovakia over mail

The European Commission opened infringement proceedings against Slovakia for failing to reopen competition in its hybrid postal sector.

The EU executive, which is the bloc’s top antitrust authority, ordered Slovakia in October to drop an amendment of its mail law which extended the monopoly of incumbent operator Slovenska Posta to the delivery of hybrid mail services.

Hybrid mail involves the electronic transfer of content to an operator which then prints and delivers the items. It is important for banks, insurance and telecoms companies, for example which regularly send large amounts of mail.

The European Commission said on Wednesday it had sent Slovakia a letter of formal notice, the first step in infringement proceedings, for failing to implement its October decision. Slovakia has two months to reply.

If the Commission is not satisfied it can eventually take Slovakia to court.