EU states strike partial mail liberalization deal

European Union states have reached a partial deal on opening the bloc’s 88 billion Euro (USD 123 billion) postal markets to full competition, but starting dates are still unresolved, an EU diplomat said on Wednesday.
The European Commission has proposed stripping away the remaining barriers to competition from 2009 but the measure needs approval from EU member states and the European Parliament.
Envoys from member states agreed to push ahead with the basic text of the measure, a diplomatic source said.
“The proposal will be submitted to the Council (of EU ministers) with a view to reaching political agreement,” the source added.
EU ministers meet in Luxembourg on Oct. 1.
Currently the market for letters weighing up to 50 grams is shielded from competition. Mail above that weight is fully liberalized.
States are divided over when full liberalization should start.
“The main issues to be resolved by ministers are the final date and possible list of countries that can delay implementation, as well as the reciprocity clause,” the source said.
Under parliament’s first reading compromise, the 12 mostly eastern European states that joined the EU in 2004 and after will have until 2013 to implement the reform.
Parliament also introduced new criteria for delayed implementation, such a for countries that have many islands, a reference to Greece. Luxembourg was also effectively given a delayed start by parliament.
Parliament has inserted a reciprocity clause in the measure so that a country that is fully liberalized does not have to authorize competitors from states that have yet to open up their own sectors.
Some EU states are opposed to these compromises agreed in parliament.
The sector employs 5.2 million people, who deliver 135 billion items a year to the European Union’s 490 million consumers.