National post offices back Daems’ blueprint for market liberalization

Date: 31/01/02

By Peter Chapman

EUROPE'S national post offices have boosted plans to liberalise the Union's mail-delivery markets by voting to accept a blueprint agreed by EU ministers.

Marc Pouw, secretary-general of PostEurop, said all 15 of the European lobby's EU members confirmed last week they backed a deal thrashed out by the Belgian industry minister, Rik Daems.

Under the compromise, member states would have to cut the monopoly granted to national post offices from letters weighing 350 grams or less to 100g or less by 2003. This would fall to 50g in 2006.

The operators' move is expected to isolate socialist sceptics in the European Parliament - such as the UK's Brian Simpson - who say they want a study into how the shift to 50g would affect universal service.

Pouw said operators preferred to see the deal become law, rather than delay the deadline for more liberalisation pending a further study.

'We hope this shows how important it is to have legal certainty - and not to be confronted by legal uncertainty for much longer,' said Pouw, adding that some operators had 'lowered their demands' in a bid to settle the debate.

He did not name names, but the French and Irish post offices had previously opposed moves to allow their legal monopolies to be cut back. They previously claimed that opening up more of the sector to competition would put at risk their loss-making deliveries to rural areas.

Mark Van der Horst, chairman of the postal committee of the private sector European Express Association, said the debate should now focus on what steps the EU should take beyond the 50g limit.

Private firms had demanded a final date for full liberalisation and were disappointed that the European Commission and ministers opted against this.

The full Parliament is expected to vote on the deal in May. If a majority of MEPs back the plan for a study on universal service, they could spark a lengthy conciliation procedure between Parliament and the Council of Ministers.

Europe's national post offices have boosted plans to liberalise the Union's mail-delivery markets by voting to accept a blueprint agreed by EU ministers.