Brussels, 26/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has made a formal request to France as it considers that the independence of the regulatory authority of the postal sector is not guaranteed. Directive 97/67 on postal services provides for Member states having to designate national regulatory authorities for the postal sector that are legally distinct and functionally independent of postal operators. France designated the Minister for Economic Affairs¸ Finance and Industry as regulatory authority. Yet, the Commission points out, the Minister is also responsible for both undertaking certain tasks in connection with State property in "La Poste" and its economic and financial performance and for regulating the sector. It thus considers that the authority's functional independence is not guaranteed. France has two months to respond to the Commission's arguments, before the case goes before the Court of Justice. Similar procedures have been initiated against Belgium, Greece, Italy and Spain, the Commission recalls in its press release.