Norway proposed postal service budget cuts

The Norwegian government has proposed significant changes to the national postal service, Posten, as part of its 2027 state budget. The proposal includes a 24 percent reduction in funding between 2026 and 2027, which would bring the postal budget to 1.52 billion NOK. Under the plan, standard mail delivery would be reduced from 2.5 days per week to once a week starting July 1, 2027, with recipients instead utilizing pickup points five days a week. These changes are intended to align postal pricing with the parcel market and comply with EU competition regulations via the EEA agreement.

The proposal has faced widespread opposition from various sectors. Norsk Industri warned that increased costs and reduced frequency could harm the graphic industry, potentially leading to magazine closures and impacting reading literacy.

Political and labor groups have also voiced strong criticism. The Center Party described the plan as a “brutal” dismantling of national infrastructure that could threaten the existence of a national postal service. Meanwhile, the trade union Fagforbundet has proposed a 500 million NOK rescue package to mitigate the impact, specifically seeking support for rural Saturday newspaper delivery and doorstep services for the elderly to protect jobs and vulnerable populations.