BRUSSELS, Dec 17 (Reuters) - The European Commission opened infringement proceedings against Slovakia on Wednesday 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.
"The Slovak authorities are obliged to amend their national legislation to bring it in line with the Commission's October decision and inform the Commission accordingly," EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement.
"In the meantime, private operators can rely on the Commission's 7th October decision to continue their hybrid mail business."
(Reporting by Ingrid Melander)
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