Parliament approves EU postal service shake-up

The European parliament adopted a revised proposal Thursday that promises to liberalise Europe’s postal services markets.

The report, drafted by EPP-ED MEP Markus Ferber, sets 2011 as the date by which the market should be fully opened, but offers an additional transitional period for new member states.

"The postal service monopolies will end as from 2011," said Ferber.

"Consumers and service providers are going to profit from more competition and innovative products on the postal market."

Socialist spokesman Brian Simpson said that guarantees concerning universal service and protection for postal workers ensured PES Group support for the measures. 

"We will closely monitor how this liberalisation process goes on," said Simpson.

"As it stands at the moment, we are happy that we have the best deal we could possible get in the circumstances."

The date set by parliament is two years later than the commission had proposed. 

MEPs also agreed with council on the principle of reciprocity: in order to avoid market distortion and unfair competition, those member states that have opened their markets should be able to refuse authorisation to operators still protected by a national monopoly in another member state.

However, an amendment proposed by Richard Howitt and others stating that postal services had an "obligation to supply free services for blind and partially sighted persons" did not gain enough support to be included in the legislation.

The Free and Fair Post Initiative (FFPI), which represents users of postal services and mail market players in Europe, welcomed parliament's decision.

FFPI president Philippe Bodson called the vote "historic", but added that more needed to be done.

"The success of postal liberalisation will in fact depend on how member
states will implement the directive," he said.

"Backstage manoeuvres to introduce barriers and protectionist rules that risk hampering access to new entrants in the market have to be avoided."

The national models will be subject to the scrutiny of the European commission.
 
After a final formal assent of council the new rules on postal services can take effect as from 1 January 2009.

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