European postal companies call for complete liberalisation in 2009

Chief Executive Officers of national postal companies in the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and Germany have started a joint initiative for a complete opening of the postal markets in Europe by 2009. In a policy paper addressed to Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, CEOs Peter Bakker (TNT), Erik Olsson (Posten AB), Jukka Alho (Finland Post Corporation) and Klaus Zumwinkel (Deutsche Post World Net) plead for a sustainable postal sector in the next decades that should be realised by a complete market liberalisation by 2009 and the modernisation of the universal service.

The joint initiative of the four postal companies has been started against the background of the Commission's present preparation of the third EU Postal Directive. Before the end of 2006, concrete proposals of the European Commission for the future regulation of the postal sector are expected. The initiative aims to encourage the European Commission to support a deadline for complete liberalisation by 2009. The deadline provides an important opportunity to create a sustainable economic framework ensuring the diversity of postal products and services, innovation and efficiency. Beginning in the 90s the gradual and controlled approach of liberalisation has allowed for a smooth transition towards competition in many EU member states. This approach has resulted in a significant improvement of quality and efficiency levels. Thus there is no need for a further prolongation of the transition process, the companies argue.

Parallel to the opening of the postal market, a modernisation of the universal service is overdue. It needs to be adapted to the communication requirements of today. Electronic means of communication like mobile telephony, email, internet and SMS have significantly changed communication behaviour. Moreover, business customers who count for about 85 percent of the mail market do not need a protection by a universal service regulation. They are better served by an open and competitive market. Therefore, the universal service should instead be targeted at securing the interests of private and smaller business customers.

TNT
TNT N.V. provides businesses and consumers worldwide with an extensive range of services for their mail and express delivery needs. Headquartered in the Netherlands, TNT offers efficient network infrastructures in Europe and Asia and is expanding operations worldwide to maximize its network performance. TNT serves more than 200 countries and employs over 128,000 people (over 163,500 people including the division Logistics which is intended to be divested). For 2005 the company reported EUR 10.1 billion in revenues (EUR 13.6 billion including Logistics). TNT N.V. is publicly listed on the stock exchanges of Amsterdam and New York. TNT recognizes its social responsibility, and has formed partnerships with the United Nations World Food Programme and the United Nations Environmental Programme to fight hunger and pollution in the world. More information about TNT can be found on its website http://group.tnt.com.

Posten AB
Posten connects people and organizations around the world by delivering mail promptly, reliably and cost-effectively. We drive value creation by combining conventional postal services and convenient electronic solutions, and integrating these services into customer businesses. With approximately 4,000 retail service outlets, we provide daily service to 4.5 million homes and 900,000 businesses in Sweden. Every day we handle close to 20 million pieces of mail. With sales of over SEK 25 billion and roughly 30,000 employees, the group is one of the largest in Sweden. The group's parent, Posten AB (publ), is wholly owned by the Swedish Government. For more information, please visit our website at www.posten.se.

Finland Post
Finland Post Group is an intelligent logistics services company offering services for delivery, information logistics and material logistics. With a staff of around 24,000 and operations in nine countries it posted a consolidated net turnover of EUR 1.35 billion in 2005. The group's operations are organised into three business groups. Messaging provides letter, magazine/newspaper and direct-mail services in Finland. Finland Post has only nationwide delivery network in Finland, enabling to reach every Finnish consumer, company or other organisation. Operating under the name of Itella, Information Logistics provides solutions for digitising communications, ranging from digital printing, data management and e-service transaction services to direct marketing services offered to companies and other organisations. Logistics provides comprehensive services from consulting to contract logistics, including transport services, warehousing and terminal services, forwarding and customs clearance services as well as IT solutions. For more information please visit website at www.posti.fi

Deutsche Post World Net is the world's leading logistics group.
Its integrated Deutsche Post, DHL and Postbank companies offer tailored, customer-focused solutions for the management and transport of goods, information and payments through a global network combined with local expertise. Deutsche Post World Net is also the leading provider of Dialog Marketing services, with a unique portfolio of efficient outsourcing and system solutions for the mail business. The Group generated revenue of 56 billion euros in 2005. With currently some 500,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories Deutsche Post World Net is one of the biggest employers worldwide. More information on www.dpwn.com