About: Postal services
Spotify spared from Commission’s geoblocking plans for now
The European Commission has narrowly avoided a showdown with the music industry and e-book publishers over its new plans to stop e-commerce firms charging buyers more if they live in certain EU countries. VideoPromoted content
The European Postal Industry in 2014
The European postal industry is a key contributor to the European economy. Today, PostEurop's members directly employ 2 million people full-time and link an estimated 800 million people daily.
France seeks financing solution for universal mail service
With new EU rules requiring national postal operators to give up lucrative lingering monopolies by 2011, France is looking for new funding mechanisms to ensure that even citizens in its remotest areas continue to receive an affordable, six-days-a-week service, EURACTIV.fr reports.
Court overrules Commission on illegal postal aid
A European court has dealt a blow to the EU executive by overturning its 2002 decision to confiscate "illegal" state aid received by the German postal operator. The ruling took place just one week after Brussels announced tougher action against mail operators attempting to shield their remaining monopolies.
Dutch minister ‘not backtracking’ on mail opening
Speaking to EURACTIV, Dutch state secretary for economic affairs Frank Heemskerk rejected allegations that his country was "backtracking" on liberalising its postal market, saying he was committed to the fight for a level playing field across Europe.
Interview: Dutch ‘not backtracking’ on mail opening
Speaking to EURACTIV, Dutch state secretary for economic affairs Frank Heemskerk rejected allegations that his country was "backtracking" on liberalising its postal market, saying he was committed to the fight for a level playing field across Europe.
Commission announces crackdown on mail monopolies
Speaking at a high-level conference on postal liberalisation on Tuesday (24 June), the EU's commissioners for competition and the internal market warned countries with lingering postal monopolies to open up or face legal action.
EU’s postal plans run into teething troubles
Germany's Deutsche Post yesterday (11 June) filed an official complaint with the European Commission against the Dutch government's decision to delay the opening of its mail market. The move comes amid increasing concern over the difficulties linked to the practical implementation of new EU rules.
Germany’s minimum postal wage ruled illegal
The introduction by the German government of a minimum wage of €9.80 an hour for all postal workers has been ruled illegal by a Berlin court, marking a victory for foreign operators wishing to enter the country's recently opened postal market.
Postal liberalisation approved amid bitter wage battle
A vote in the European Parliament paving the way for unbridled competition among postal operators has been welcomed by many as a key step in improving the quality and efficiency of mail services across Europe. But others fear the new law will lead to massive job cuts and a deterioration of working conditions.
Dutch delay postal liberalisation
The liberalisation of the Dutch postal market will not go ahead as planned on 1 January 2008 due to the "lack of a level playing field", notably caused by the introduction of a minimum wage for postmen in Germany. The delay highlights the difficulties linked to the practical implementation of new EU rules on opening up European postal markets to competition.
Scaled-down public services proposal under fire
The Commission's decision to scale down its ambitions for public service regulation has been met with contempt by trade unions, public employers, NGOs and the Socialist Group in the European Parliament.
Interview: EU must focus on financing universal postal service
As rules on liberalising Europe's postal markets look to be adopted in the New Year, Pál Szabó, CEO of Hungary's Magyar Posta, points to a number of "bad experiences" in countries that have already opened up their postal markets to competition and stresses the need for a "sustainable financing solution" to allow operators to continue providing citizens with quality mail delivery.
‘Safeguarding universal service requires sustainable financing solution’
As rules on liberalising Europe's postal markets look set to be adopted in the New Year, Pál Szabó, CEO of Hungary's Magyar Posta, points to a number of "bad experiences" in countries that have already opened up their postal markets to competition and stresses the need for a "sustainable financing solution" to allow incumbent operators to continue providing citizens with quality services.How to regulate the postal industry: an economic approach
Regulators and lawmakers are failing to understand the economics of the postal industry, claims the International Post Corporation (IPC) in a joint study undertaken in conjunction with the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW).
EU pushes through postal services liberalisation
Member states have reached a compromise deal to liberalise postal services in the EU by 2011, following 20 years of Commission-led negotiations to open up the sector. Luxembourg and ten other member states were granted two-year exemptions.
‘No agreement possible on liberalising postal markets by 2009’
With Portugal currently at the EU's helm, the country's Public Works, Transport and Communications Minister Mário Lino talks exclusively to EURACTIV about achieving a compromise between all 27 member states on the sensitive issue of opening up national postal markets to competition, and describes the main elements of a deal that he believes will garner the backing of his 26 European counterparts.
Interview: Portugal eyes end to ‘mail battle’
Mário Lino, Portugal's minister in charge of postal affairs, has spoken to EURACTIV about his hopes of clinching a political agreement on the sensitive subject of opening up national mail services to full competition, at a meeting of EU transport and communications ministers next week.
Parliament votes to delay postal liberalisation
Despite strong opposition from postal workers, members of the European Parliament gave the green light to postal liberalisation. Nevertheless, MEPs agreed that member states should have at least an extra two years – until 2011 – before having to complete full market opening.
Postal reform comes under Parliament scrutiny
The European Parliament will, on 10 July 2007, vote on controversial plans to open up European postal markets to competition – a move feared by trade unions and lingering national monopolies, but which the Commission says is essential for the survival of the sector and will make services cheaper, faster and more innovative.
MEPs agree two-year mail-reform delay
Members of Parliament’s transport committee overwhelmingly voted in favour of delaying the liberalisation of Europe's postal markets to 2011, in a move that will displease Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy.
Financing Universal Service for mail delivery
With full postal-market liberalisation due in 2011, the Commission wants to guarantee that European citizens continue to enjoy the right to a full universal service. A variety of financial-support mechanisms have been suggested, but many fear that none will appropriately ensure the same level of service as the current monopoly system.France and Germany clash on mail liberalisation
A Commission proposal to open Europe's postal markets to full competition provoked a rift between member states as France, with the support of trade unions across Europe, opposed the 2009 deadline upheld by EU Presidency-holder Germany.