Tag: Europe

UPU celebrates 60 years as a UN specialized agency

Posted by | Jul 1, 2008 | |

The Universal Postal Union is officially celebrating its 60th anniversary today as a specialized agency of the United Nations.
Indeed, it was on 1 July 1948 that the UPU became a member of the United Nations Organization. Since then, our organization has contributed to worldwide efforts to improve communication between people, promote development, reduce poverty, improve health and access to education for all, and make our world more safe and stable, among many other things.

“Communication, which the UPU develops between peoples through the efficient operation of postal services as part of its mission, is at the heart of efforts to maintain peace, promote health and education and provide humanitarian aid where needed,” says UPU Director General Edouard Dayan. “In addition to its legal commitments under the agreement and its participation in UN conferences, the UPU has become involved in activities and specific projects to help achieve UN objectives, particularly the Millennium Development Goals.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also marked the anniversary during a visit to the UPU International Bureau in Berne, last 28 April. In a speech to staff, he said: “The UPU may be one of the smallest specialized agencies of the UN, “but its work is key to the broader mission of our Organization.”

2008 is an important year for the UPU, as the organization prepares for its 24th Universal Postal Congress, which is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 23 July to 12 August.

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DHL and TNT boost association of European airlines’ membership to 35

Posted by | Jul 1, 2008 | |

From 1st July 2008, the Association of European Airlines expands its horizons, following the decision of the AEA Presidents’ Assembly in May to welcome the express cargo carriers TNT and DHL, as AEA’s 34th and 35th airline members.

The accession of DHL’s European airlines (European Air Transport and DHL Air UK) and TNT Airways to AEA membership will bring still one more dimension to the Association. The express air carriers’ business model integrates different modes of transport into one system; it is based on network planning and coordination centred around one or more hub airports to which express freight is forwarded either by road or by air.

DHL traces its origins to the early 1970s in the US, but with expanding worldwide operations, Deutsche Post World Net bought the company in 2002. DHL has its main European operating hub at Leipzig in Germany, from where it operates regular direct daily services to 30 European destinations, as well as services to Africa and the

Middle East. DHL airlines operate 33 Boeing 757s and 18 Airbus A300s for the DHL Express network to every major city in Europe.

TNT Airways, founded in 1999, is a Belgian licenced air carrier based in Liège. Its parent company, TNT n.v. has its headquarters in the Netherlands. From its Liège hub, TNT operates 47 aircraft (B747s, A300s, B757s, B737s, BAe146s) to more than 70 European destinations and has traffic rights to 12 intercontinental destinations. For long haul transport, the company also has agreements with commercial passenger airlines.

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GLS launches new delivery services in Belgium and Slovenia

Posted by | Jul 1, 2008 | |

GLS has introduced new delivery services in Belgium and Slovenia to extend its product range and improve its customer service.
In Belgium, GLS launched the new Express-Parcel service providing nationwide delivery the next day by 17:00. Shippers receive a free of charge delivery confirmation either via sms or e-mail. In addition, customers can choose between several time-definite options including 10:00-Service, 12:00-Service, Saturday 12:00-Service and 9:00-Service for some regions.
The new express service is integrated into the GLS Belgian standard delivery system of parcels strengthened through a few additional drivers and vehicles.
In Slovenia, GLS has expanded its service portfolio with two new additional services, the DayDefinite-Service and Addressee Only-Service.
With the day-definite service, the customer can choose a date for the shipment to be delivered. The Adressee Only-Service ensures that a parcel will be handed over to the indicated recipient only by verifying the person’s identity. This is to avoid, for example, that pharmaceuticals or important documents fall into wrong hands. If the recipient is not available, the driver will try to deliver the parcel again the next day.
It is also possible to combine the additional services with the basic delivery products including Express-Parcel, Business-Parcel or Business Small-Parcel comprising a total of 13 different options.

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Deutsche Post to receive 1 bln euro repayment after court ruling

Posted by | Jul 1, 2008 | |

Deutsche Post World Net will receive a repayment of around 1 billion euros after the European Court of the First Instance in Luxembourg today overturned a 2002 decision by the European Commission.
The European Commission in 2002 ordered Deutsche Post to repay 907 million euros in purported state aid and interest. Deutsche Post in 2002 appealed the decision and will now receive a repayment.
Responding to the decision, Deutsche Post said the court had confirmed the company’s legal position.
The company expects to receive the cash inflow in several weeks’ time and would prefer to earmark the amount for returning to shareholders, pending clarity regarding other cash-relevant issues.
In June 2002, the Commission determined that Deutsche Post from 1994 to 1998 covered a cost deficit in the competitive business parcel segment through improper cross-subsidization with State aid funds earmarked for the financing of the universal service. Deutsche Post has always disputed this claim.
Furthermore, no cross-subsidization was found in Commission antitrust proceedings completed a few months earlier. In September 2002, Deutsche Post brought an action for annulment of the Commission’s state-aid decision before the European Court of the First Instance.
As a result of the Commission’s decision, however, Deutsche Post had to repay 572 million euros that was determined to be state aid plus 335 million euros in interest to the Federal Republic of Germany at the beginning of 2003. Germany will now repay this amount with interest to Deutsche Post.

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