Tag: BdKEP

The European Commission has ruled against certain provisions in Germany’s postal regulatory framework which bar commercial mail preparation firms from earning discounts for handing over pre-sorted letters at Deutsche Post AG’s (DPAG) sorting centres. The incriminated provisions induce DPAG to discriminate against mail preparation firms: whilst large senders are allowed to feed self-prepared mail directly into sorting centres and are granted discounts for doing so, commercial firms are barred from discounts for mail preparation. Commenting on the decision, Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said: “The German Postal Law induces Deutsche Post to abuse its dominant position thereby putting commercial operators at a considerable competitive disadvantage. The Commission’s action will establish a competitive level playing field for mail preparation firms. The experience in countries where a large part of companies’ mail is outsourced shows that the overall letter and direct mail volume has increased to the benefit of all operators.”