Brussels, 08/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - Announced in the report on application of the March 2005 postal directive, two studies commissioned by the EU on postal services in Europe were published during the summer break on the Internal Market Directorate-General's website. The first looks at extending competition in the European postal area, recommending to keep up the pace in gradually opening postal services up to competition until a common market is achieved. The second looks at changes in regulations covering European postal services, setting out three fundamental factors underlying new legislation.
Carried out by Anglo-Dutch consultants ECORYS, the first study looks at competition in postal services in each Member State, sketching the potential for extending competition. It concludes that there are no reasons for changing the deadline for full liberalisation of the postal market as set out in the postal directives. It adds that opening up to competition is the path to be followed and says there is no urgent reason for consumers not being allowed to use postal operators of their choice.
The second study was carried out by a communications research institute, WIK Consult, and says that while EU legislation has allowed universal postal services in Europe to be more efficient, more transparent and better suited to the revolution brought about by the information society, it is an 'incomplete response' to the fundamental sea-change new technology will provoke in the future. As part of reflection over a new regulatory framework, the legislator should take account of basic regulation principles like clear targets, political coherence, proportionality, greater market transparency, fair implementation, regulator powers and legal security, along with transnational issues like establishing sufficient time to adopt to the restructuring of suppliers of universal services.
Directive 97/67/EC on continuing to open postal services up to competition, amended by Directive 2002/39/EC, runs out on 31 December 2008. At some point in the future, the European Commission will publish a new prospective study assessing the impact for each Member State of completing the Common Market in terms of universal postal services. The study will serve as a base for the drafting of a report (to be published before the end of next year) along with a proposal possibly confirming that 2009 will be the deadline for completing the Single Market in postal services or setting out other alternative measures in the light of the conclusions of the prospective study.