Brussels, 11/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - By adopting (101 in favour, 10 against and 1 abstention) the Opinion submitted by Peter Morgan (UK, employers group) relating to the future of the postal services, the European Economic and Social Committee proved the existence of a real compromise agreement on this delicate and sensitive issue. It mainly calls on the European Commission: 1 ) to respect and guarantee the quality of the universal service; 2) to take account of the socio-economic interest of the liberalisation of the postal service; 3) to clarify, in its proposal for a directive, the definition of special services so that the content of the universal service may be protected.
During the debate in plenary, many advisors had as concern to guarantee postal services that may reconcile the interests of all users and the need to open it up to competition. The most thorny part of the debate was the question of the funding of the universal service. As a reminder, the Commission states that a cut in the weight of mail subjected to competition to 50 gr. would affect 16% of mail. The Commission considers that a limit in excess of 50 gr would lead to too weak an opening of the market for it to be attractive. Postal operators state that if the limit is curt to 50 gr., the universal service would be in danger as profits would not suffice to finance such a service and consider that, consequently, the economic balance of the provider of the universal service as well as the level of employment being jeopardized. In its Opinion, the Committee establishes an average limit of 150 gr. (desired by certain operators), instead of the current 350 gr. and the 50 gr. proposed by the Commission. This average should enable the universal service to be retained, as well as the quality of the service, while assessing the economic and social impact.
Then, the Committee considers that the Commission (for which, if there is no liberalisation, jobs will be lost) has to proceed with assessments especially regarding the level of employment.. Not only must information technology systems be improved but also post offices, and personnel need employing and training in computer sciences. The diversity of national approaches renders definitive decision-taking in the matter delicate. The Commission would like the Commission to provide a statistical analysis on the
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first stage of the reform before embarking on the second and ensure that this analysis be as precise as possible.
For the Committee, the move towards liberalisation has to be assured with caution. The fundamental question is the need to guarantee a universal service and remain attentive to very sensitive collateral social issues (especially in rural areas) that must be broached at the same time as the liberalisation of the postal services. The postal services must be liberalised, which the Committee encourages in principle, but this must be in the respect of the fragile financial balance of mail services and be undertaken in such a way as to create jobs.