Brussels, 29/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is to take a decision before summer on the former German postal monopoly Deutsche Post which may have illegally taken advantage of State aid. According to the Commission, there is a conflict of interests between the inherent activities of the private sector and those belonging to the public postal service. As a reminder, Deutsche Post has already been condemned on two occasions for abuse of a dominant position (see EUROPE of 21 March, p. 12 and 26 July, p. 11). "The Commission is studying information at its disposal and should take a decision before the summer", said Amelia Torres, spokesperson for the Commissioner for competition, Mario Monti. "Should it transpire that Deutsche Post is in the wrong, there should be a refund, but I do not want to encourage speculation", she added, referring to an article in the Allgemeine Zeitung, by which the Commission should take a negative decision in May or June, citing a sum of "several million euro".