The sole shareholder of Slovenská pošta, established through transformation in 2004, is the state. By law, it is designated as the national provider of basic postal services, which must be available to all residents regardless of where they live, at affordable prices and at a certain quality level. By the end of 2024, there were 1,431 branches across Slovakia, five mobile units and 16 contracted parcel collection points.

“The scope of the universal postal service in Slovakia is broader than required by European Union rules. At the same time, the prices currently set for the provision of this ‘service for the state’, as well as for other state-owned companies or authorities, generate a loss. Between 2021 and 2024, this loss amounted to nearly €35 million in total – a clearly unsustainable situation,” warned Jaroslav Ivančo, Vice-President of the Supreme Audit Office.

Key parameters defined in the licensing conditions from 2012 and 2022 have not been adjusted, despite significant changes in the market. The loss from providing universal postal services is partially covered by a compensation fund, but the fund is financed almost exclusively by the state – unlike in most European countries, where private postal operators also contribute. Slovenská pošta was unable to offset this loss with revenues from its other commercial services.

“The Ministry of Transport, as the guarantor of postal policy, plans to review the regulatory framework for the provision of universal postal services only between 2026 and 2028. This poses a serious risk of deepening the Post’s existential problems and could threaten the continuity of basic delivery services – such as pension payments – which no other entity provides to citizens,” Ivančo emphasised.

In 2024, Slovenská pošta failed to meet several financial indicators set out in loan agreements from 2020 and 2021. Consequently, banks were entitled to demand early repayment of outstanding loans totalling more than €33 million. Under international accounting standards, all loans became immediately payable. However, following negotiations, banks temporarily waived their right to call in the loans early.

“This risk remains present and requires a financially sustainable solution,” added the Vice-President of the national auditors.

A positive step identified by the SAO is the ongoing reassessment of contracts with key private business partners – such as Poštová banka and SWAN – to ensure that service fees are appropriately set. This recommendation was made by the Office during its previous audit. Nevertheless, some contractual relationships in other areas remain loss-making, for example services provided to TIPOS, the Press Subscription Centre, and the payment of pensions and social benefits – even though revenues from these activities have grown. To respond to market developments, Slovenská pošta has also introduced several new services, including the “Moja ePošta” (My ePost) customer zone, PIN-based parcel collection, online press subscriptions, Pošta POINT pick-up locations, and electronic confirmation of cash-on-delivery payments.

From the perspective of financial management and asset use, the audit identified several shortcomings, including breaches of the Public Procurement Act and violations of the principles of economy. The SAO quantified uneconomical conduct at €909,000, of which €867,000 represented two years of rent for the Smart Hall premises on Bojnická Street in Bratislava. Slovenská pošta leased the property in 2022 for seven years without the option of early termination, even though it remained unused until 2024, when the company began subletting it. The Post also breached the principle of transparency under the Public Procurement Act by failing to apply contractual penalties for delays in the delivery of lorries purchased under public contracts. The law was also violated by signing an amendment to a telecommunications services contract – an issue repeatedly sanctioned by the Public Procurement Office, with total fines amounting to €155,000.