Press Release: Postal services: Commission proposes full market opening by 2009

The European Commission has put forward a proposal to open EU postal markets fully to competition by 2009, in line with the agreed target date set out in the current Postal Directive. On the basis of extensive research, the Commission believes that this is the best way to maintain universal service while further improving quality and choice for EU consumers and businesses. Full market opening will mean that national operators will no longer have a monopoly on mail below a certain weight (currently a maximum of 50 grams), known as the 'reserved area'. Member States will be allowed a flexible choice of means to finance universal service provision or the possibility to share out the universal service obligation between operators. The proposal provides further clarification on how this can be achieved. The proposed new Directive is the final step in a long reform process that has already seen large areas of EU postal markets opened to competition, with very positive results.

European Commission: MEMO/06/383: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Postal Services http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/383&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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