Services of General Interest (Including Postal setion)
Services of General Interest (Including Postal setion)
Read MoreTag: European Commission
Postal users left with mixed feelings by delay in postal liberalisation
The Postal Users Group (PUG) expressed disappointment about the further delay in the liberalisation of the postal market following the vote in the Plenary of the European Parliament yesterday in Strasbourg. MEPs rejected the Commission’s proposal of 2009 as the deadline for removing the remaining “reserved area” (i.e. monopoly by the national postal operator, which is now for letters of 50 grams or less) and opted for market opening by 31 December 2010, with an exemption for the new Member States and Member States with a “difficult topography” who can liberalise their markets by 31 December 2012.
The European Parliament’s Plenary has also adopted some amendments that confirm a more user oriented focus for the European postal sector. The Postal Users Group is particularly happy with the proposal for a reimbursement scheme for stolen, damaged or lost postal items by the Member States and the guarantee of affordable postal services, as well as the increased transparency and efficiency of the European postal sector, which will be of benefit to the users of postal services in Europe – both consumers and businesses.
Throughout PUG has stressed the need for the Public Postal Operators (PPOs) to focus on user needs – such as small and large publishers, e-commerce providers and direct marketers – to achieve the full potential of the sector. This is a message that PPOs working in liberalised – or soon to be liberalised – markets have take to heart, and are working with users to launch innovative new products and services that help grow mail as a viable communication with a healthy and sustainable future.
Per Mortensen, Chairman of the PUG, expressed mixed feelings about the outcome of the vote: “It’s a shame that the deadline for liberalisation has been postponed. However, I am happy that there is now a fixed date and that we, the users, can prepare for the further development of a healthy business relationship between the Posts and its customers. Users will enjoy the full potential of a liberalised postal sector and the efficiency and innovation that comes with it”.
Read MoreEU Probes Planned EUR 7.7 Million German State Funding For DHL
The European Commission Wednesday opened an investigation into a German government plan to give express company DHL Worldwide Express Inc. EUR7.7 million to support worker training.
The commission is worried DHL would train its workers without government help, making the state grant an unnecessary and potentially illegal subsidy. Under European Union rules subsidies are allowed if they support job creation and aren’t giving companies an unfair advantage over their competitors.
DHL, a unit of Deutsche Post AG (DPW.XE), is building a new parcel delivery and airfreight center in Leipzig-Halle, Germany. The site will have around 1,500 employees.
DHL plans to train about 480 of these workers as freight handlers, security guards and mechanics. The German government funds would account for 60 pct of the training scheme’s costs.
“I have concerns that DHL would have carried out this training project in any event, and therefore does not need the aid,” the commission’s top antitrust official Neelie Kroes said in a statement.
DHL’s competitors and other interest groups have been invited to weigh in on the planned subsidies. The commission said its investigation doesn’t prejudge whether the funds will be allowed.
Read MoreEU opens inquiry into 7 mln eur state aid for training scheme at DHL site
The European Commission said it has opened a formal investigation into 7 mln eur of state aid which Germany intends to allocate to a training project at a new DHL site in Leipzig-Halle, Germany.
DHL’s training project would derive around 60 pct of the costs from state aid.
The commission, however, said it doubts that the aid is compatible with EC Treaty rules, as much of the training seems to be required by law or be otherwise necessary to operate in the new location. It said DHL would have to provide the training to its employees even without the aid as the company must employ new workers in order to start operating.
Competition commissioner Neelie Kroes added: ‘I am always happy to approve training aid which has positive external effects for the society as a whole. However, in this case, I have concerns that DHL would have carried out this training project in any event, and therefore does not need the aid.’
DHL is a worldwide service provider in the parcel delivery and airfreight sector, wholly owned by Deutsche Post AG.
Following its move to Leipzig-Halle, DHL is currently building a new delivery and airfreight centre which is expected to become operational by the end of Oct 2007. DHL plans to employ around 1,500 people and to provide training to 480 employees.
Read MoreEU declines comment on report to rule against French savings account exclusivity
The European Commission declined to comment on a report that it will rule today against the exclusive distribution of French tax-free savings products.
‘I cannot make any comment,’ said a spokesman for EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes.
Agence France-Presse, citing unnamed sources, reported the commission will rule that the exclusive distribution of ‘livret A’ and ‘livret bleu’ savings accounts by La Poste, the Caisses d’Epargne and Credit Mutuel infringes competition laws.
AFP also reported that the French finance ministry envisages appealing the commission’s ruling.
In early June last year, the commission initiated infringement proceedings on the accounts, which are intended to finance social housing as well as private savings.
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