Brussels, 19/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - French Socialists Anne Ferreira and Béatrice Patrie clearly stated their views, on Thursday in a press release, against the agreement of 15 October concerning the new stages in liberalisation of the postal services market within the EU (see EUROPE of 16/10, p.6, and 17/10, p.1). Both MEPs consider this "agreement signs the death warrant for the public postal service, not only in France but also at European level". They consider that, by reducing the share of the sector reserved to the public postal service, the new phase in liberalisation prevents the service from operating internal financial equalisation allowing it to keep up public service activities. The compromise of 15 October "is equivalent in time to the suppression of the single stamp price", they stress. Acknowledging that liberalisation of the postal sector is already very well advanced in certain Member States, Ms Ferreira and Ms Patrie expressed doubt about the ability of some States to maintain the same service whatever the constraints linked to distribution (insular regions, mountainous areas, etc.). Deploring the fact that the logic of competition and completion of the internal market takes primacy, they state they are determined to obtain, as quickly as possible, the adoption of a framework directive establishing guiding principles for services of general interest.