Brussels, 07/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - A few days away from the EP's examination of the joint Council position on the privatisation of EU postal services, unions sent out a warning about the risks this action could provoke: the disappearance of nearly half a million jobs, the end of the guarantee of a universal daily delivery. A press statement indicated that, "For many consumers it's going to mean a worse service for more money while some of the new operators cherry pick and get fat. The statement pointed out that rapid deregulation in Sweden meant post offices closing, prices increasing and an inferior postal service. John Pederson, Head of the UNI-Europa regional union federation said that this absurd and old-fashioned economic logic that destroys public services is also at the origin of the Enron case in the USA and Railtrack in the United Kingdom. "We want the European Parliament to force new thinking and insist on a study of the impact of de-regulation on postal services - before any further changes in 2006". The proposals on de-regulation contained in the Council's common position would apply to letters of over 100g from 2003 and over 50g from 2006, with review being foreseen for 2009. The trade unions insist that next year's de-regulation should be limited to mail weighing over 50g.