FEDMA left with mixed feelings by delay in postal liberalisation

PRESS RELEASE                                                                

Brussels, 12 July 2007

FEDMA left with mixed feelings by delay in postal liberalisation 

FEDMA expressed disappointment about the further delay in the liberalisation of the postal market following the vote of the European Parliament Plenary yesterday in Strasbourg.

European Parliamentarians rejected the Commission's proposal of 2009 as the deadline for removing the remaining "reserved area" (i.e. the national postal operator monopoly, 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. FEDMA, holding the Secretariat of The Postal Users Group (PUG), is particularly happy with the reinsertion of a compensation scheme for stolen, damaged or lost postal items, and the guarantee of affordable postal services, as well as the increased transparency and efficiency of the European postal sector. These items had appeared in previous proposals, but had been dropped, and they will benefit users of postal services in Europe – both consumers and businesses.

Throughout FEDMA has stressed, through its work in PUG, 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. They 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.

Alastair Tempest, Director General of FEDMA, expressed mixed feelings about the outcome of the vote: "It's a shame that the deadline for liberalisation has been postponed. However, we are happy that there is now a fixed date and that we, the users, can prepare for the further development of a healthy business partnership between the Posts and its customers. Our industry will enjoy the full potential of a liberalised postal sector and the efficiency and innovation that comes with it".

The next step is for the Council of Ministers to formulate their common position, but so far, no political agreement has been reached in Council. If there is no agreement, then the existing Directive would lapse at the end of 2008 under the so-called sunset

clause, leaving no postal services legislation at all. This would have serious consequences for the sector, a scenario that all parties concerned are keen to avoid. FEDMA will keep in close contact with the current Portuguese Presidency to make sure that a sustainable European Postal sector will be secured for the future.

For more information, please contact Anne Marheim Støren.

ENDS

Note to Editor

About FEDMA

FEDMA, the Federation of European Direct & Interactive Marketing, represents the sector in all its forms. FEDMA’s objective is to protect and promote the European direct and interactive marketing sector by creating, through representation, self-regulation and information, acceptance of and confidence in direct and interactive marketing within a healthy commercial and legislative environment in which the sector can profitably operate and develop. In addition to its direct Corporate, Corporate Associate and Company Members, FEDMA represents nearly 10,000 companies through its national DMA members.

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FEDMA                                                                                                                                       

Anne Marheim Støren

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