Comments on the Danish government’s intention to end the universal service obligation
According to the Postal Act, the Danish state must ensure that mail is delivered throughout the country. In Denmark, PostNord has the task of providing this universal postal service across the country. That has been the case for almost 400 years.
The three parties in government (Socialdemokratiet, Venstre and Moderaterne) have now entered into an agreement, together with five opposition parties (Liberal Alliance, Konservative Folkeparti, Radikale Venstre, Alternativet och Nye Borgerlige), regarding the future design of the postal service in Denmark. They intend to change the Postal Act and allow the market to take care of providing a nationwide postal service. If this proposal is implemented, the current agreement with PostNord would terminate at the end of this year.
The draft agreement contains special regulations for shipments sent to small islands and blind people, as well as international mail. A service will be awarded via tender for such deliveries. The Danish state intends to sign a transitional solution with PostNord until these tender procedures have been completed.
The proposal will now go through the consultation process and in October the final agreement is expected to be put to a vote in the Folketing (parliament). The agreement is expected to enter into force on January 1, 2024.
“We have just seen the Danish government’s proposal regarding a new agreement. We will now analyze it and submit our opinions in accordance with standard consultation process,” says Annemarie Gardshol, Group CEO of PostNord.