51999IP0025

B4-0025, 0039 and 0040/99

Resolution on European postal services

The European Parliament,

- having regard to European Parliament and Council Directive 97/67/EC on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service ((OJ L 15, 21.1.1998, p. 14.)),

A. mindful of the economic and social importance of postal services in the European Union,

B. whereas it is necessary to implement and safeguard a high-quality Community universal service in postal services in accordance with the key objectives of Directive 97/67/EC and Council resolution of 7 February 1994,

C. whereas Article 7 of Directive 97/67/EC requires the Commission to table new proposals on the further gradual and controlled liberalisation of the postal market before the end of 1998,

D. recalling Parliament¨s often stated position concerning the need for a high-quality universal service and the implementation of gradual and controlled liberalisation of postal services, as last expressed by question E-3024/98 of 21 September 1998 to the Commission,

E. whereas in its reply to question E-3024/98 of 6 November 1998, the Commission stated that it would be in a position to send the new proposal on the further gradual and controlled liberalisation of the postal services market to Parliament towards the end of 1998,

F. whereas to date this proposal has not yet been received,

G. whereas Directive 97/67/EC remains to be implemented into national law in a great number of Member States and whereas the market and the economics of the universal service in postal services cannot yet be correctly observed and assessed,

H. whereas the Commission has not forwarded for Parliament¨s attention various feasibility studies on the impact of the liberalisation of certain postal services,

1. Considers that, in the absence of the new proposal on the further gradual and controlled liberalisation of the postal services market, the legislative deadlines set out under Articles 7 and 27 of Directive 97/67/EC no longer apply;

2. Stresses that evaluations undertaken by Parliament on the liberalisation of postal services will not be based solely on the Commission¨s feasibility studies, but also upon consultations by Parliament with the universal service providers in Member States once these are known;

3. Requests the Commission to forward for Parliament¨s attention the above studies as well as any other information deemed necessary;

4. Underlines that any further evaluations must take into account the long-term economic and financial balance of universal service providers as well as the employment consequences within European postal operators;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the governments and parliaments of Member States.