WG Political Issues - Malta

The Political Issues working group (WG) of the European Committee for Postal Regulation (CERP) held a meeting on 24 April in Malta, co-chaired by the Netherlands and Norway, with the following standing out:
 
The minutes of the Dublin meeting were discussed in the point concerning the decision not to go ahead with the UPU (Universal Postal Union) Issues project team (PT). In this regard, Portugal noted that even though the PT had not been constituted, UPU issues would still have to be discussed and that this group was mandated to do so. Also, it was emphasised that the WG needed to schedule its meetings for dates that enabled European co-ordination prior to the work of the UPU. The group chairman assumed these recommendations and proposed that CERP should determine the key issues to debate in a timely manner, instead of making an exhaustive analysis of all the proposals submitted to the next UPU Congress. Portugal agreed with this approach, highlighting that discussion of the key areas should include study of the European and non-European proposals regarding those key issues, a suggestion agreed to by the other countries;
 
As chair of the WG UPU Structure and Composition of the Union's Council of Administration (CA), Norway presented a report on the work carried out in Berne during the Postal Operations Council (POC), specifically with regard to replies to the questionnaire on UPU reform, and to the preparatory work for the organisation's next CA. The holding of the Strategy Conference next November in Dubai was also highlighted - its aim is to present future scenarios for the Union and to determine the major orientations of the Nairobi World Postal Strategy for 2008.
 
As chair of the PT National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), the United Kingdom presented a reflection document on the operations and duties of those Authorities, which was extensively discussed, specifically with regard to the NRAs' independence and financing. The United Kingdom agreed to introduce some comments into the document, and to present it at the CERP plenary session as a contribution from this Committee to the European Commission. The aim is for the members' concerns to be considered in the Commission's draft Third Postal Directive. Note that the EC should present this proposal in November in order to begin negotiations with the member States, while the studies ordered by the EC should be published on 1 July.
 
The Netherlands presented the package of legislation that will be debated in Parliament in early May, with a view to total liberalisation of the postal market on 1 January 2008.
 
The next meeting has been scheduled for 8 September in Paris.