Omniva to seek EC assessment of postal market competition conditions in Lithuania
Omniva has decided submit claim to the European Commission requesting an assessment of whether the current framework for financing the Universal Postal Service (UPS) in Lithuania provides sufficient safeguards to ensure transparency and fair competition in commercial postal, parcel and logistics markets.
The company emphasizes that it does not question the importance of the Universal Postal Service or the principle of public compensation for services provided in the public interest. Rather, Omniva believes it is important to ensure that public funding is used transparently, and that regulated activities remain clearly separated from commercial operations in competitive markets.
“Universal Postal Services play an important role in ensuring access to essential services across Lithuania. Our objective is not to challenge this role, but to seek clarity regarding how public compensation interacts with commercial activities in a rapidly evolving parcel and logistics market,” said Martti Kuldma CEO at Omniva Group.
According to Omniva, the Lithuanian parcel market has undergone significant transformation in recent years, driven by e-commerce growth, technological innovation and increasing competition. At the same time, public compensation for Universal Postal Services has increased substantially, raising legitimate questions regarding transparency, cost allocation, and the relationship between regulated and commercial activities.
“We believe that competition, innovation and equal market conditions benefit customers, businesses and society as a whole. Where questions arise regarding the application of state aid and competition rules, they should be assessed independently and transparently by the appropriate European institutions,” added M.Kuldma.
The planned submission follows a period of broader discussion regarding the future of postal services in Lithuania. Last week, Omniva announced its withdrawal from the Universal Postal Service selection process after concluding that the remaining timeline no longer provided sufficient certainty for a potential provider to prepare responsibly for the transition. This experience further highlighted the importance of transparency, predictability, and open competition in the postal sector.
Omniva has engaged external legal and economic experts to evaluate the available information and prepare the necessary documentation for submission to the European Commission.
The company remains committed to serving Lithuanian customers and businesses and views this initiative as a constructive step towards greater transparency, regulatory clarity and long-term sustainability in the postal and logistics sector.
Omniva is also preparing a similar submission concerning Latvia, reflecting broader questions regarding transparency, fair competition and the interaction between public compensation and commercial activities in the Baltic postal market.