THE HAGUE, 12/12/07 - The Lower House is considering a partial privatisation of the rest of the postal market. A majority is positive on a plan by postal company Sandd for an interim scheme, Het Financieele Dagblad reported yesterday.

Sandd proposes that newcomers on the postal market could deliver post items, which come under TNT's remaining monopoly, up to a certain quota. The Christian democratic (CDA) and Labour (PvdA) coalition parties and conservative (VVD) opposition party consider this a reasonable request by the postal company, though they have their reservations.

Economic Affairs State Secretary Frank Heemskerk announced last Thursday that complete liberalisation of the postal market would be postponed for an unspecified period. TNT therefore remains for now the only company that can deliver letter post weighing under 50 grams. The other parts of the market were already liberalised earlier.

Heemskerk decided to drop the liberalisation on 1 January 2008 because Germany wants to maintain a preferential position for its monopoly Deutsche Post, meaning there would be no level playing field with neighbouring countries. The association of large postal services users (VGP) is urging speedy clarification on a new liberalisation date because otherwise it will not dare to conclude any contracts.

CDA MP Nicolien van Vroonhoven has "sympathy for Sandd's call." But "on the other hand, companies knew that the introduction was linked with the proviso that there must be a level playing field with other countries." PvdA MP Mei Li Vos spoke of a "reasonable" request "though the question is whether it is possible." Along with VVD MP Charlie Aptroot, the two government parties will press for speedy clarification by Heemskerk (PvdA).