EC clears Belgian plans for bpost compensation
The European Commission (EC) has found Belgium’s plans to compensate bpost with €1.3bn for providing postal services of general economic interest between 2016 and 2020 to be in line with EU state aid rules. In a statement posted on Friday (3 June), the EC said that Belgium notified it about the bpost compensation plans in spring 2016.
“In particular,” said the EC statement, “Belgium intends to compensate bpost in the period 2016 to 2020 for the provision of certain public services. These include maintaining a post office network throughout Belgium, delivering pension payments, providing universal cash at counter services, delivering printed material related to elections as well as distributing recognised newspapers and periodicals in Belgium.”
The EC statement added: “The Commission’s assessment showed that the compensation granted to bpost for the provision of these services is based on a robust methodology, which ensures that it will not exceed the cost of the public service mission. This compensation mechanism also includes incentives for bpost to increase the efficiency and quality of its public services.
“Finally, the task of delivering recognised newspapers and periodicals has been entrusted to bpost following an open, transparent and non-discriminatory tender. This is in line with Belgium’s commitment under the Commission’s May 2013 decision endorsing the public service compensation for bpost between 2013 and 2015.
“On this basis, the Commission concluded that the Belgian measures are in line with EU state aid rules.”
