Brussels, 25/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - During a meeting in Strasbourg with representatives of other political groups at the EP responsible for this dossier, Markus Ferber (EPP-ED, Germany), rapporteur on review of the postal directive (97/97/EC), has suggested early 2011 as the deadline for liberalising the postal sector. At present, the postal sector can still be reserved for the traditional public operator. “Mr Ferber takes the line that there should be total liberalisation as of end December 2010”, circles around Mr Ferber say. A further period of two years would be granted to member states that joined the EU in 2004, and there would be specific rules for EU countries whose geographical conditions are “extreme”, they say. Mr Ferber is said to be more inclined towards flexibility with regard to countries made up of many islands. Compared to his draft report in favour of the timetable envisaged in European legislation (see EUROPE 9403), this proposal is a real opening on the part of the rapporteur, mainly with a view to rallying the members of his political group who had put forward amendments calling for postal liberalisation to be postponed, and with a view to seeking the support of the Socialist Group (see EUROPE 9428). During the meeting, the decision was also taken to defer the vote in the parliamentary transport committee to 18 June during the plenary session in Strasbourg. If this date is approved, the vote by the EP plenary session may take place in July. Otherwise it will be necessary to wait until September. Discussion in committee on this issue will take place as scheduled, on 4 June.
Mr Ferber sketched out six compromise amendments to the other political groups. In addition to his proposal to postpone the date of liberalisation for the postal sector, he suggests with a clause of reciprocity to prevent traditional postal operators of a member state that has not yet opened up its national market for mail weighing less than 50 grams to conquer markets in member states, where competition is more open. This principle of geographical delimitation is to be brought closer to the solution that has been found for the procedure to gradually open up local public passenger transport to competition (see EUROPE 9208). Another proposal from Mr Ferber would be to strengthen provisions relating to social conditions in the postal sector. Finally, the rapporteur is apparently not against the idea of carrying out further surveys, mainly on the extent of the Universal Postal Service (UPS), but these should not be linked to the date of liberalisation. We point out that Ferber's draft report suggested the scope of UPS should be limited to mail units sent by individuals. The welcome given to these six amendments to the compromise by the shadow rapporteurs was generally positive, subject to in depth examination by political groups. MEPs concerned will be meeting again during the first week of June.
At the European Parliament, five parliamentary committees have already voted for opinion on the proposal for a directive: the industry committee (ITRE), regional development (REGI), and employment (EMPL) committees voted for total opening of the postal sector to competition to be deferred until 2012; the internal market and economic and monetary affairs committee voted for liberalisation as of 2009.
No political agreement is expected during the meeting of the relevant Council scheduled for 7 June. The German EU presidency will simply report on progress made in the work (see EUROPE 9432). It has given up the idea of a debate resulting in a set date. “I do not believe a date will be set during the Council”, one European source said. The German Presidency is expected to simply put two general questions to delegations: Do member states agree about the need to pursue reform in the postal sector? When will member states be ready to complete the internal postal market? As some delegations stressed - the answer is once they have received a response on the financing of UPS. (mb)