Correos fined for failing to meet USO quality target
03 September 20
Carmen Mateas
The Spanish postal regulator, CNMC, fined Correos €160,000 for failing to meet the quality target for its Blue Parcel service (Paquete Azul) from 2014 to 2018. The blue parcel service includes domestic parcels up to 20kg and is included in the scope of Correos' universal service obligation.
EU Timeline
03 September 20
Elisar Bashir
This edition of Cullen International’s EU Timeline highlights key regulatory developments foreseen at EU level until the end of 2020.
ARCEP approves increases in La Poste's USO tariffs and the promotion of the online letter service
02 September 20
Virginie Alloo
The French regulator, ARCEP, approved the increase proposed by La Poste for the level of tariffs for universal mail and parcel services in 2021. La Poste proposed prices increases for a range of services, including an average 5% rise for universal services, which is the annual rate of increase allowed by ARCEP. The NRA also validated La Poste's proposal to promote its online letter service.
Posti plans to combine the delivery of newspapers and letter mail
19 August 20
Armen Ghalumyan
The Finnish USP Posti is planning in certain areas to combine its early morning newspaper distribution with letter mail to reduce the number of daily deliveries to one. The main reason for the measure is the continuing sharp reduction in letter volumes, coupled with Posti’s commitment to environmental sustainability targets. A survey recently commissioned by the USP found that 66% of interviewed households are in favour of the approach. Posti will start with the shared delivery of letters and newspapers in four localities of the country.
Portugal: no justification to increase international prices despite higher terminal dues
04 August 20
Peter Dunn
ANACOM, the Portuguese postal regulator, decided on 23 July 2020 not to approve revised prices for international universal postal services.
In particular, the regulator ruled that changes to international terminal dues rates, including those arising following the UPU's Extraordinary Congress in 2019, did not justify diverging from the existing 1.41% cap on any annual increase in CTT's prices in 2020.
Italian regulator defines physical letters markets, distinct from digital
31 July 20
Peter Dunn
AGCOM, the Italian postal regulator, is consulting until 25 September 2020 on its market definition conclusions in the first stage of reviewing the national letters market. In particular, AGCOM decided that the physical letters market was distinct from the digital market for correspondence and communication. Postal markets must contain at least one physical element. AGCOM also defined both universal services and non-universal services in the same market.