La Poste readying itself for competition

French national postal service La Poste is readying itself for increased competition this January, when mail weighing more than 100g, or three times the standard letter weight, will be deregulated within the EU. This is a further step towards deregulation for mail weighing more than 50g, which will come into effect in January 2006. Jean-Paul Bailly, La Poste’s new chairman, has unveiled ambitious plans for the period 2003-2007. However, these cannot go ahead until a new contract has been negotiated with the government, which will probably involve streamlining some of the group’s activities.