Deutsche Post should have more time to deliver its letters.

In return, however, the federal government is demanding that a higher proportion of the letters arrive reliably within the specified new transit times.

This is how key points of the Federal Ministry of Economics envisage a reform of the postal law.

So far, on an annual average, 80 percent of letters have to reach the recipient in one day, and 95 percent in two days.

"Specifications with longer terms and greater binding force" could better meet consumer needs and help reduce carbon emissions, the paper says.

According to the Post, the previous requirements can only be met by domestic flights.

Also under discussion is a premium product for faster shipping,

Helmut Buender

Business correspondent in Düsseldorf.

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Complaints about unreliable letter delivery have been accumulating at the network agency for several months.

Market surveillance can issue warnings, but has so far had little opportunity to force improvements.

The ministry is therefore planning to give the authority greater powers.

This includes regular quality checks, Swiss Post's reporting obligations and the option of imposing "effective sanctions".

Before the summer, the cornerstones are to be followed by a fully formulated draft law with details.

What is certain is that the six-day delivery obligation for letters will remain.

When determining the postage, investments in "sustainable postal logistics" should be given more consideration in the future.

The Ministry has also taken up Post's demands to relax the strict requirements for the branch network.

"Digital and automated solutions" would have to be taken into account appropriately, products that are in little demand could be removed from the mandatory catalog of services.

The reform also aims to increase competition.

In the future, competitors should also be able to feed smaller parcels that fit in the mailbox with volume discounts into the postal delivery network.

So far, this is only possible for letters.

The ministry wants to tighten the regulations against price dumping in the mail market, which is still 85 percent dominated by the post office.

New regulations for companies entering the postal market from other markets are aimed at Amazon and its parcel logistics.

The network agency must be able to intervene if "market power is transferred to a postal market in a way that distorts competition".