Cullen International’s new benchmarks examine the scope of the powers available to European postal NRAs in two specific areas – for dispute resolution and also whether they can impose fines.

In all of the countries studied, NRAs can intervene in disputes between postal service providers, although sometimes the scope of the NRA’s intervention is limited. For end user complaints, some postal NRAs do not play a role, with the escalation of such complaints being handled by alternative specialist organisations.

In most of the countries studied, postal NRAs have the power to impose fines for breaches of the postal regulations (and in some cases also for breaches of related regulations, for example, in competition and consumer law). NRAs can mostly impose fines directly themselves without having to apply to the courts.