Tag: Switzerland

Publication of Postal Directive marks start date for real market opening

Posted by | Feb 27, 2008 | |

The publication marks the entry into force of the directive and sets the clock ticking for abolishing legal monopolies on postal services by 31 December 2010. The Directive is the result of a broad political consensus on the way forward for the regulatory framework of European postal services. The Commission will monitor and assist Member States pro-actively in implementing the Directive. In particular, it will pay close attention to potential entry barriers that would deprive users of the benefit of a dynamic and open market.

The mission of EU postal reform continues. Next steps will require close monitoring of the development of competition notably by national regulatory authorities whose role has now been strengthened further. Particular attention will be paid to quality and prices of universal postal service. The Commission services will assist Member States in the transposition of the Directive to ensure that postal reform remains true to its objective of high quality and innovative postal services.

The text published reflects the overall political agreement between the institutions and keeps the key elements of the Commission’s initial proposal and in particular: the accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services via the abolition of the reserved area in all Member States; the confirmation of the scope and standard of universal service; reinforcement of consumers’ rights and upgrading of the role of national regulatory authorities; the offering of a list of measures Member States may take to safeguard and finance, if necessary, the universal service.

With the removal of reserved areas, users of postal services can expect the services available to them to develop and further improve. In this open environment, universal service providers will be motivated to become more reliable and efficient and to further increase their customer focus in the light of potential competition from new market entrants. In line with the goals of the Lisbon agenda, full market opening will also directly foster the creation of new jobs in new postal companies, and, indirectly, in the industries dependent on the postal sector.

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Swiss Post statement: Financing not guaranteed for basic service

Posted by | Feb 27, 2008 | |

Swiss Post is not pleased with today’s decision to lower the monopoly limit within a short time to 50 g. A reduction of this type also requires a simultaneous adjustment of the operating conditions. Furthermore, this overly hasty procedure contradicts the current stance taken by the Federal Council and Parliament.

PostFinance’s scope limited

Swiss Post is sorry that the Federal Council has not taken the further development of PostFinance’s activities into consideration. This limits the earnings power of Swiss Post and is detrimental to the Swiss economy, as the 43 billion francs in customer deposits cannot be invested in the Swiss SME and mortgage market. Swiss Post is continuing to call for expansion of its activities so that PostFinance can offer mortgages and loans in its own name.

Fund unsuitable

Swiss Post wishes to continue providing a good, nationwide basic service in future. This constitutes an important basis for Switzerland’s economy and the whole population. The Federal Council wants to adhere to the current level of the basic service but is taking away Swiss Post’s financing basis by abolishing the monopoly. In order to finance Switzerland’s extensive basic service we need the appropriate resources. Without such a residual monopoly, this would have to be downsized. The alternatives – a fund to be set up primarily by Swiss Post or compensation to be paid by the Confederation – are not suitable instruments. Swiss Post hopes that the consultation will produce a more balanced result.

Swiss Post needs greater flexibility

The Federal Council’s draft postal law limits the entrepreneurial scope of Swiss Post excessively. It must be able to organize itself along entrepreneurial lines ahead of full market liberalization. A number of studies show that both the basic service and the company itself would otherwise suffer and structural financing shortfalls would arise. This is why Swiss Post is calling for fewer restrictions from the politicians. The draft law does not provide for a level playing field, even if this is what the Federal Council intends. In the specific proposal, Swiss Post will ensure that it is not disadvantaged in comparison with private-sector competitors. In view of the rapid opening-up of the market to competition, the Federal Council’s proposal to introduce collective employment solutions for the respective sectors will have to be implemented quickly.

Discussion about the purpose of liberalization

In its press release, the Federal Council did not mention a reason for liberalizing the postal market. Previously it justified this by citing trends in the EU, with which Switzerland has to keep pace. In contrast to many EU countries, customers in Switzerland are very satisfied with the services that Swiss Post provides, and, according to the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication, Swiss Post’s prices are appropriate. Swiss Post thus believes there is still a considerable need for more discussion regarding the complete liberalization anticipated by the proposed law.

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24th UPU Congress to be held from 23 July to 12 August

Posted by | Feb 18, 2008 | |

The UPU International Bureau today confirmed the place and date of the 24th UPU Congress. It will take place at the Geneva International Conference Centre from 23 July to 12 August.
The next Universal Postal Congress was to be held in Nairobi. Given the situation in Kenya, the UPU Council of Administration decided by consensus to change the venue during its latest session in Berne.

UPU member countries have also been informed of the new deadlines for submitting Congress proposals. Proposals submitted until 22 March must be supported by at least two postal administrations, while those submitted after that date and until 22 May must be supported by at least eight postal administrations.

The date for applications for the posts of Director General and Deputy Director General of the International Bureau has now been set at 22 May.

The International Bureau has set up a Congress preparatory committee to organize the international meeting normally attended by some 1,500 delegates from the UPU’s 191 member countries.

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Swiss Post improves parcel delivery quality

Posted by | Feb 12, 2008 | |

Swiss Post said it further improved its parcel delivery quality last year but mail quality dropped due to the operational start of a new sorting hub.

The proportion of PostPac priority parcels reaching their recipient on the next working day rose by 0.3 percentage points from 2006 to 97.6%, the Swiss postal operator said. Delivery quality for PostPac Economy, with delivery on the second working day after posting, was stable at 97.5 pct.

Delivery of A-Post (first class) mail dropped back from 98 pct to 97.1 pct while B-Post (second class) fell to 96.7 pct from 98.3 pct. Swiss Post said that the operational start of the new mail sorting hub at Zurich-Mülligen had impacted negatively on quality but it stressed that its mail delivery quality remained at a high international standard.

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24th UPU Congress changes location

Posted by | Feb 11, 2008 | |

Given the current situation in Kenya, the Universal Postal Union’s Council of Administration on Friday decided to change the venue of the 24th Universal Postal Congress from Nairobi, Kenya, to Geneva, Switzerland.
The UPU Congress was scheduled to take place in Nairobi from 13 August to 3 September 2008. The event attended by about 1,500 delegates from the UPU’s 191 member countries will now take place in Geneva from mid-July to early August; the exact dates remain to be confirmed.
A resolution adopted by the Council also recommends that Congress approve Kenya’s chairmanship of that Congress as well as the chairmanship of the UPU Council of Administration from 2009-2012. It will also recommend promoting Nairobi as the venue for the UPU Strategy Conference in 2010.
Kenya has not yet communicated its response to this resolution.
The UPU must hold a Congress every four years. The last one was held in Bucharest, Romania, in 2004. The situation in Kenya currently prevents the UPU International Bureau to work effectively with Kenya on continuing to organize a Congress in Nairobi. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, the UPU follows UN security rules. At the moment, the UN has implemented security phase II in Nairobi and phase III in the entire Rift Valley. As such, all non-essential UN missions to Kenya remain suspended.

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