Charlie McCREEVY: European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services
The EU Internal Market for Postal Services – creating it together
High Level Conference on Postal Market Reform
The three-month-long automated parcel terminal pilot at Itäkeskus in Helsinki ended at the end of May. All parties who took part in the trial were satisfied with the pilot. “In particular, we received plenty of positive feedback...
Read MoreFurther to the European Commission high level conference on Postal services on 24 June, 11 signatory postal operators from Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland and Slovakia express their support for the next steps towards Full Market Opening (FMO) of the European postal market under the balanced conditions embodied in the third postal directive.
The two key principles for the signatory operators are first and foremost the creation of mechanisms able to ensure the financing of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) all over the EU territory under FMO conditions, and the establishment of a true level playing field in all aspects, including social conditions.
In this perspective, the Member States have the responsibility to ensure balanced national regulatory frameworks that take into account the two mentioned principles.
Confronted with an uncertain economical environment where the question of financing or sharing the universal service is still under debate, the signatory operators call for special attention to the sustainability of the universal service and the postal market in its entirety. A study carried out in 2007 by the independent consulting firm Oxera demonstrated that the fundamental policy question to be asked is how the universal service obligations are to be financed.
The 11 signatory operators will continue to contribute to the implementation process in a positive and constructive manner, and with strong vigilance upon safeguarding the provision of universal service and the implementation of a level playing field.
Read MorePostcomm Annual Report 2007/08Postcomm’s latest annual report sets out details of our strategy:
– Universal service. Ensure the continued provision of an affordable universal postal service.
– Protecting customer interests. Where they have little effective choice, Postcomm will ensure customers benefit from an affordable universal service and adequate protection in terms of prices and service quality.
– Promoting sustainable competition. We aim to provide customers with choice through efficient and sustainable competition between postal operators.
– Advising on the post office network. We aim to ensure that government decisions on the future of the post office network are informed by Postcomm’s research, information and advice.
– Building effective stakeholder relations. Our stakeholders range from major mail customers and operators to Government departments, trade unions, Postwatch, Parliament and the devolved administrations. We aim to maintain and support strong relationships with all stakeholder groups through proactive communication and the sharing of information.
– Using and developing resources effectively. We want to be an effective, efficient organisation, with a highly committed and motivated staff that is continually improving and regarded as “best in class” in comparison with our peer group of other regulators.
Jersey Post has welcomed the proposed review of their postal services by the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (‘JCRA’).
The JCRA is asking Islanders and businesses to comment on the performance of Jersey Post, and the company would like to encourage as many islanders as possible to take part.
Jersey Post handled 86 million items of mail in 2007 and delivers to over 42,000 homes and businesses in Jersey.
Jersey Post, Chief Executive, John Pinel explained: “We try and deliver the best possible service to our customers and in the last year we have exceeded a number of postal industry standard benchmarks, as well as offering some of the lowest postal rates in Europe. We were also shortlisted for the World Mail Awards which is a huge achievement.
Mr Pinel also said: “Jersey Post report to the JCRA every 6 months and over the last 6 years there has been an improvement in quality year on year. This year’s results are very encouraging and currently we are on target to meet the majority of our independently assessed Quality of Service goals including our local mail delivery service. We are highly dependent on our air links to and from the UK and delays due to weather or technical issues directly affect our Quality of Service results. We work hard with our partners to continually improve this service and provide solutions which help remove some of the challenges of Island life.”
Mr Pinel continued: “This review by the JCRA is a good way for us to get external feedback and input from our customers. We would also like to extend an invitation to any Islander who may wish to join one of our group visits to our premises at Rue de Pres to find out for themselves just how we operate a delivery and collection service 6 days a week, whatever the weather. Viewing the processes first hand is incredibly interesting and helps people really understand what we do,” Mr Pinel said.
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