postal regulation

The postal sector is changing fast. As the traditional market enters a steep decline, e-commerce is driving rapid and unprecedented growth in parcel delivery - all of which has an impact on the way the sector is regulated.

At Cullen International, we provide independent and expert insight into the past, present and future of EU postal regulation. Subscribe to our intelligence services, and we’ll help you to stay informed as the sector evolves and to understand how that evolution affects you.

general topics covered

Universal service obligations

Use our Postal service to stay informed on the steps taken by regulators to maintain the sustainability of the universal service despite the decline in traditional postal volumes. Track and compare different national regimes, and anticipate new rules and reforms taking place at the EU level. Topics covered include :

  • Postal Services Directive
  • Universal service scope and changes
  • Price caps
  • Funding
E-commerce

E-commerce has led to rapid growth in the parcel sector, driving providers to innovate and diversify to rise to new challenges and meet changing consumer expectations. As national and EU level regulation is now increasingly focusing on this area, our intelligence services provide an essential independent resource on this transformative trend. Topics covered include:

  • Horizontal consumer protection rules
  • Postal sector rules on parcel delivery
  • Alternative means of delivery
  • VAT and customs

latest intelligence

EU's top court holds that courier operators can be required to contribute to the funding of national regulators
21 September 23 Michael van Maris van Dijk

The Court of Justice of the European Union has held that express courier operators can be asked to bear the cost of regulating the universal service. Furthermore, regulators' administrative and institutional costs can be counted as part of the operational cost of regulating the postal sector, and regulators may be funded solely by the contribution of postal market players.

Ofcom issues provisional conclusions in access dispute between Royal Mail and Whistle
21 September 23 Michael van Maris van Dijk

Ofcom, the UK postal regulator, has published its provisional conclusions on an access dispute between Royal Mail and Whistl. Ofcom provisionally concluded that Royal Mail was entitled to pass on the costs of complying with its regulatory information obligations to Whistl. In addition, Whistl was not allowed to offer to waive these obligations.

EU Timeline
18 September 23 Javier Huerta Bravo

This edition of Cullen International’s EU Timeline highlights key regulatory developments foreseen at EU level until the end of 2023.

Ofcom will advise UK government on changing the universal postal service
13 September 23 Michael van Maris van Dijk

Ofcom, the UK postal regulator, has announced that it will carry out research into the future of the universal service. The regulator will present multiple options on the possible future regulation of the universal service obligation, and the UK government will then decide whether to take any legislative measures to make changes to the universal service.

German regulator rejects Deutsche Post application to increase letter prices
17 August 23 Dieter Kronegger

The German postal regulator, BNetzA, rejected Deutsche Post’s (DP) application to increase letter prices before the end of the current price cap period, 31 December 2024. BNetzA’s decision was based on procedural and substantive grounds, finding that DP has no legal right to request revocation of the price cap decision and also could not prove that its unit costs have increased.

Italian regulator proposes compulsory compensation for postal users
10 August 23 Peter Dunn

AGCOM, the Italian postal regulator is consulting on the introduction of compulsory minimum levels of compensation to be paid to postal users. Compensation would be paid, in some cases automatically

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