In 2003, La Poste had an18% market share in the Belgian express parcels sector while Deutsche Post/DHL held a 35% to 45%share, the court noted. "The assessment of whether this measure was compatible with the common market presentedserious difficulties requiring the initiation of the detailed investigation procedure which wouldhave permitted Deutsche Post and DHL International to submit their observations," the court stated. In its judgment, the Court of First Instance said that the Commission exceeded the normaltwo-month examination period for state aid by taking seven months over the decision and noted thatit requested additional information three times. Yet it still did not have sufficient informationand also failed to examine Belgian Post's service costs before making its decision. The European Commission now has two months to decide whether to appeal against the courtdecision. If it does not, then it would have to re-examine formally the 2003 Belgian governmentpayment.