Amended proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service
Date: 1996-07-31
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: approximation of laws, postal and telecommunications services, postal service, quality standard, single market

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  31.07.1996 
COM(96) 412 final 

96/0221  (COD) 

Amended proposal  for a 

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 

on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal 
services and the improvement of quality of service 

(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article  189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

The  Commission  hereby  presents  a  modified  proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and 
Council  Directive  on  common  rules  for  the  development  of  the  internal  market  of 
Community  postal  services  and  the  improvement  of  quality  of  service.  The  modified 
proposal  incorporates  those  amendments  proposed  by  the  European  Parliament  at  First 
Reading which  are accepted by the Commission. 

I. 

INTRODUCTION 

a) 

Background 

The  Commission  adopted  its  proposal  on  25  July  1995,  and  it  was  formally 
transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council on 22 November  19951. 

The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  gave  its  opinion  on  28  March  19962.  The 
European  Parliament  adopted  a favourable  Resolution  at its First Reading  on  9  May 
1996,  and proposed  58 amendments to the Commission  proposal3. 

b) 

Purpose  of the  Directive 

This  Directive  aims  to  provide  for  a  harmonised  regulatory  framework  at 
Community  level for the postal sector. 

It  provides  for  a minimum  mandatory  universal  service  to  be  provided  throughout 
the  Community  to  all  citizens,  wherever  they  are  located,  at  affordable  prices.  In 
order to ensure the financial  viability  of the universal service,  the proposed  Directive 
defines  harmonised  criteria  for  the  services  which  may  be  reserved  to  the  universal 
service  providers  to  the  extent  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  the  universal 
service,  whilst  also  providing  for  a gradual  and  controlled  opening  up  of  the  postal 
market to more competition. 

The  proposed  Directive  also  provides  for  the  establishment  of  service  quality 
standards  both  for  national  postal  services  and  for  intra-Community  cross-border 
services,  as  well  as  setting  out  a  procedure  for  the  elaboration  and  adoption  of 
harmonised  technical  standards.  Furthermore,  the  proposed  Directive  requires 
separation between regulatory powers and operational  functions. 

1  OJC322,  2.12.95, p. 22 

2  TRA/293,28.03.96 

3  A4 - 0105/96, PV 09-05-96 

2. 

EP  AMENDMENTS ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSION 

Of  the  58  amendments  adopted  by  the  European  Parliament  at  First  Reading,  the 
Commission  can accept  10 in full,  5 in part and  1  in principle, making a total of 16. 

Amendments accepted  in full  : 

4, 9,  13, 21, 27, 30, 39, 55, 56, 57 

Amendments accepted  in part  : 

1, 37, 38, 41, 48 

Amendment accepted in principle : 

15 

The Commission has accepted those amendments which : 

-  emphasise the importance of creating an internal market for postal services within 

the European  Community; 

-  re-inforce  the  need  for  a  wide  consultation  of  interested  parties  in  the  postal 

sector; 

-  increase transparency and ensure the effective  provision of relevant information  to 

the public; 

-  refer  to  the  possibility  for  Member  States  to  integrate  the  twelve-star  symbol  of 
the  EU  into  their  postage  stamps  and  the  need  to  explore  the  possibilities  for 
introducing Euro-denominated postage stamps; 

-  make clear that the process of liberalisation should not curtail the right of Member 

States to make provision for services for blind and partially sighted persons; 

-  clarify  the text in a manner consistent with the aims of the Directive; 

-  extend the period allowed for implementation of the Directive; 

-  are consistent with other Community  legislation. 

3.  AMENDMENTS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSION 

The  Commission  has  not  accepted  42  of  the  58  amendments  proposed  by  the 
European  Parliament.  The  reasons  are  given  below,  where  the  amendments  are 
grouped into 9 broad categories. 

Reserved services and timetable for liberalisation 
(Amendments  10, 14, 16, 19, 20, 28, 34, 40, 41 (in part), 54) 

Amendment  10  implies  that  a  reserved  area  should  always  exist,  whereas  Article 
8(1) makes clear that services should only be reserved when necessary.  Amendments 
16,  19, 34 and 40 would  effectively  freeze  any liberalisation  of direct mail or cross-
border  mail  for  at  least  5 years  after  entry  into  force  of  the  Directive.  This  would 
seriously undermine the delicate balance, called for by the Council  in its Resolution 

of  7th  February  19944  , between  the gradual,  controlled  opening  of  the  market  and 
the safeguarding  of the universal service. 

'O1-

This  open-ended  retention  of  direct  mail  and  cross-border  mail  within  the  reserved 
area  forms  part  of  a general  postponement  of  the  liberalisation  process  which  (as a 
result of amendments 20, 28, 40 (3rd part) and 54) would also include  postponement 
of  the  general  review  of  the  application  of  the  Directive  from  the  first  half  of  the 
year  2000 at the  latest,  until five  years after  its entry  into force.  These  amendments 
are therefore  also not accepted by the Commission. 

There  is  also  no justification  for  restricting  competition  in  registered  mail  services 
outside  the  price  and  weight  limits  of  the  reserved  area,  and  hence  amendment  41 
(first  part)  is not accepted.  The operation of the reserved  services must  comply  with 
the rules of the Treaty,  and with the competition  rules in particular,  and  amendment 
14, which implies otherwise, is therefore not accepted. 

Declaration  and authorisation  procedures 
(Amendments 23, 42 (in part), 43) 

As  a  consequence  of  the  freezing  of  liberalisation  measures  referred  to  above, 
amendments 42 and 43 would  also remove from  the Directive the provisions  which 
allow  for  the  implementation  and  ultimate  harmonisation  of  declaration  and 
authorisation  procedures  for  the  commercial  provision  of  non-reserved  postal 
services.  The  Parliament  also  rejected  recital  22  of  the  Commission's  proposal, 
which refers to declaration and authorisation procedures, by a separate vote. 

Similarly, amendment 23 would delete the reference to the possible establishment of 
an identification  system  for  direct mail. Those amendments would therefore  remove 
important  safeguards  designed  to  ensure  the  orderly  provision  of  the  universal 
service in the context of the opening up of the market by the Member States, and are 
therefore not accepted. 

Universal  Service 
(Amendments  8,  12, 22, 33, 37 (in part), 38 (in part), 42 (in part), 45) 

The minimum  requirements for the universal  service are set out  in detail  in Chapter 
2 of the Directive,  and the limited  definition  provided in amendment 33 is  therefore 
insufficient  and  unnecessary.  Special  and  new  services  have  specific 
both 
characteristics  which  distinguish  them  from  services  within  the  universal  postal 
service,  and  amendments  22  and  42  (first  part)  (which  take  no  account  of  such 
differences)  are  therefore  not  accepted.  Amendment  38  (which  would  delete  the 
words  "whose  circumstances  are similar"  from  the 2nd  indent  of  Article  5) fails  to 
take  account  of the diversity of the needs of users which  the universal  service  must 
satisfy. 

Amendment  38  also  introduces  elements  (social  protection  of  employees  and 
economic and social cohesion) which, although valid Community objectives,  are not 
intrinsic elements of the definition  of the universal service as such. Furthermore, the 

OJ C 48,  16.02.94, p. 3 

universal  service  requirements  apply  throughout  the  Community  and  should  not 
therefore  focus  only on  its provision  in the most  remote or  least  advantaged  regions 
(amendment 8). 

Amendments  12,  37  and  45  would  make  the  setting  of  a  single  uniform  tariff  a 
mandatory  element  of  the  universal  service.  While the  Commission  believes  that  a 
uniform  tariff  structure may often  be appropriate, this is for Member  States to decide 
upon  in accordance with  the principle of subsidiarity,  and  is not a pre-condition  for 
the  existence  of  a  universal  service,  as  experience  in  some  Member  States  has 
shown.  Users' interests  in relation to tariffs  are sufficiently  protected  by the  concept 
of  affordability  already  enshrined  in  the  Directive.  The  provision  of  a free  service 
for  blind  and partially sighted  persons is a matter for Member  States to decide upon, 
in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity,  and should not therefore  be included 
as a mandatory element of the universal service (amendment 37, final  indent). 

Quality of Service 
(Amendments  5, 48 (in part), 49, 50) 

The quality of Community  cross-border  services  is clearly unsatisfactory  at  present, 
and the deletion  of  the reference  to this fact  in the recitals  is not therefore  justified 
(amendment  5). Although  the  Commission  is  sympathetic  to  the  additional  quality 
standard  for  national  services  introduced  by  amendment  48  (second  part),  the 
exceptions which that amendment would introduce are not acceptable. 

Amendment  49, while motivated  by a valid  concern to  improve performance  levels, 
is insufficiently  precise to warrant  inclusion  in a legislative text.  On the other hand, 
the limitations which amendment  50 would place on postal users' rights of access to 
effective  complaint,  compensation  and  appeal  procedures  would  significantly 
weaken the mechanisms established by the Directive to ensure that quality  standards 
are met. 

Terminal  Dues 
(Amendments 25, 26, 81) 

Amendments  25, 26 and  81 would  seek  to  establish  a stricter  and  more  detailed  set 
of  criteria  for  the  establishment  and  regulation  of  a  system  of  terminal  dues  by 
Member  States  and  the Commission.  However,  tariff  systems  such as terminal  dues 
are  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  postal  operators,  who  must  act  in  co 
ordination with their national regulatory  authorities and in compliance with the rules 
of  the  Treaty  and,  in  particular,  the  competition  rules.  Flexibility  is  therefore 
required for the development and continued monitoring of the terminal dues system. 

The  Commission  proposal  already  sets  out,  in  accordance  with  the  Council 
Resolution  of  7 February  1994,  the  fundamental  principles  on  which  the  terminal 
dues system has to be founded,  and takes into account that considerable  adjustments 
will  need  to  be  made  to  tariffs  in  some  Member  States  in  order  to  ensure  their 
alignment with costs. Recourse to Article 25 of the Universal  Postal Convention  can 
only be justified  where it dies not conflict  with the rules of the EC Treaty.  Similarly, 
certain  forms  of  remailing  cannot be  prevented  and  a case by  case  approach  to  the 
issue of remailing is necessary. Hence amendments 25, 26 and 81 are not accepted. 

Social and  Employment  issues 
(Amendments 3, 7,  11,  17, 18, 24, 40 (in part), 58) 

Whilst  the  Commission  fully  recognises  the  importance  of  taking  employment  and 
social  issues  into account  in the ongoing  process of  liberalisation,  it believes  that to 
make the development  of employment  and social  protection  within  the postal  sector 
an over-riding  priority  or  a pre-condition  for  liberalisation  and  the  improvement  of 
quality  of  service  would  risk  undermining  the  principal  objectives  of  the  directive 
and  deprive  it  of  its  effectiveness.  Hence  amendments  3,  11,  24,  40  (end  of 
paragraph  2)  and  58  are  not  accepted.  Amendments  7  and  17  are  not  appropriate 
because  they  prejudge  the  impact  on  employment  of  the  liberalisation  measures 
proposed. 

As regards  the requirement  in amendment  18 for  a study  on  the  implications  of  the 
Directive  on  current  levels  of jobs,  the  Directive  already  contains,  in  Articles  8(2) 
and  (3),  provision  for  a general  review  which  will  include,  among  other  elements, 
analysis of the implications in the area of employment and services. 

Definitions 
(Amendments  31, 32, 35, 36) 

Amendments  32  and  36  introduce  definitions  for  terms  ("public  service",  "self-
provision",  "express mail  service" and  "hybrid  mail  service")  which  are not used  in 
the  substantive  text  of  the  Directive  and  hence  are  unnecessary.  The  definition  of 
"direct  mail"  in  amendment  35  places undue  emphasis  on the  form  of  the  message 
(requiring that it be "identical") as opposed to its purpose (advertising or marketing), 
and so is not accepted.  Amendment 31 seems unnecessarily  to duplicate the existing 
contents of the definition  of "postal item". 

Case law of the Court of Justice 
(Amendments 6 and 29) 

The selective references  to the case law of the Court of Justice and  its  interpretation 
contained  in amendments 6 and 29 are not considered  conducive to legal certainty in 
their  present  context.  Moreover,  as  regards  the  reference  in  amendment  29  to  the 
Commission's  draft  Notice on the application  of the competition  rules  to  the  postal 
sector,  it  is  not  appropriate  to  try  to  restrict,  by  means  of  a  Directive,  rights  and 
obligations of the Commission which derive from the EC Treaty itself. 

Other amendments 
(Amendments 2, 40 (in part), 44, 47, 51, 52, 53) 

Amendment  47 would  result  in  a weakened  requirement  for  accounting  separation 
between  the  primary  activities  within  the  reserved  area  and  non-reserved  services, 
and introduces additional criteria of uncertain application. Hence it is not accepted. 

The  Commission  believes  that  it  remains  appropriate  to  provide  for  a  future 
harmonisation  of the conditions of access to the public postal  network,  if  necessary, 
and  the  deletion  of  Article  12  (amendment  44)  is  therefore  not  accepted.  The 
development  of  harmonised  technical  standards  in  the  framework  of  the  internal 
market  is  carried  out  on  a  voluntary  basis,  and  the  more  binding  wording  in 
amendment  51 is therefore  not accepted. 

6 

The  conduct  and  procedures  of  the  Advisory  Committee  established  by  virtue  of 
Article  21  must be  governed  by  the  established  rules  of  comitology  agreed  between 
the  Community  institutions,  and the  changes  to  these  procedures  which  amendment 
52 would  bring about cannot therefore  be accepted. 

The  Commission's  original  proposal  is  consistent  with  Member  States'  right,  in 
accordance  with  the  principle  of  subsidiarity,  to  provide  for  special  services  to  be 
made  available  to  blind  and  partially  sighted  persons.  Amendment  40  (end  of 
paragraph  1) is therefore  unnecessary. 

Only  those  bodies  whose  role  in  the  legislative  process  is  provided  for  by  the  EC 
Treaty  should  be  referred  to  in  the  preamble,  and  hence  amendment  2  is  not 
accepted.  Article  22  of  the  Commission's  proposal  already  entrusts  national 
regulatory  authorities  with the task  of  ensuring  compliance  with  all  obligations  (and 
consequently  the protection of  corresponding  rights)  derived  from  the Directive  and 
the  specific  reference  in  amendment  53  to  rights  provided  for  in  Article  8(1),  is 
therefore  inappropriate. 

4. 

CONCLUSION 

The  Commission  has  accepted  16 of  the  58  amendments  proposed  by  the  European 
Parliament at First Reading,  either in whole,  in part or in principle. 

In  accordance  with  Article  189a  paragraph  2  of  the  EC  Treaty,  the  Commission 
amends  its initial proposal, incorporating these amendments. 

Amended  proposal  for a European  Parliament and Council  Directive on common 
rules for the development  of the internal  market of  Community  postal services and 
the improvement of quality of service 

Original  text 

Amended text 

Title 

Proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and  Proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and 
Council Directive on common rules for the  Council  Directive on common rules for the 
postal  development  of  the  internal  market  of 
development 
services and the improvement of quality of  Community  postal 
the 
service 

improvement of quality of service 

of  Community 

services  and 

Recital 4 

the  Commission 
wide-ranging 

(4)Whereas 
conducted 
public 
consultation  on  those  aspects  of  postal 
services  that  are  of 
interest  to  the 
Community; 

has  (4)Whereas the Commission has conducted 
wide-ranging  public  consultation  on 
those  aspects  of  postal  services  that are 
of  interest  to  the  Community  and  the 
interested  parties  in  the  postal  sector 
have communicated their observations to 
the Commission: 

Recital 8 

(8)Whereas the measures seeking to ensure 
the  gradual  opening-up  of  the  market 
and  to  secure  a proper  balance  in their 
application  are  necessary  in  order  to 
guarantee,  throughout  the  Community, 
and subject to the obligations  and rights 
of  the  universal  service  providers,  the 
free  provision  of  services  in  the  postal 
sector itself; 

(8)Whereas the measures seeking to ensure 
the gradual and controlled opening-up of 
the  market  and  to  secure  a  proper 
balance in their application are necessary 
in  order  to  guarantee,  throughout  the 
the 
Community, 
obligations  and  rights  of  the  universal 
service  providers,  the  free  provision  of 
services in the postal sector itself; 

subject 

and 

to 

Recital 14 

(14)  Whereas  users  of  the  universal  (14)  Whereas  users  of  the  universal 
service  must  be  given  adequate 
information  on  the  range  of  services 
offered,  the  conditions  governing  their 
supply  and  use,  the  quality  of  the 
services provided, and the tariffs; 

service  must  be  given  adequate 
information  on  the  range  of  services 
offered,  the  conditions  governing  their 
supply and use, and the tariffs; 

Recital  16a (new) 

( 16a)  Whereas the process of  liberalization 
should  not  curtail  the  continuing  supply 
qf  certain  free  services  for  blind  and 
partially  sighted  persons  introduced  hy 
flhe  Member States; 

Recital 20 

(20)  Whereas,  for  reasons  of  public  order 
and public security,  Member  States may 
have  a  legitimate  interest  in  conferring 
the right to site  letter-boxes  intended  for 
the  reception  of  postal  items  on  the 
public  highway  on  one  or  more  entities 
designated  by  them;  whereas,  for  the 
same  reasons, 
to 
appoint the entity or entities  responsible 
for  issuing  postage  stamps  bearing  the 
name of the country; 

they  are  entitled 

(20)  Whereas,  for  reasons  of  public  order 
and  public security,  Member  States  may 
have  a  legitimate  interest  in  conferring 
the right  to site  letter-boxes  intended  for 
the  reception  of  postal  items  on  the 
public  highway  on  one  or  more  entities 
designated  by  them;  whereas,  for  the 
same  reasons, 
to 
appoint  the entity  or  entities  responsible 
for  issuing  postage  stamps  identifying 
the  country  of  origin;  whereas  the 
postage  stamps  may  indicate  that  the 
country  belongs  to  the  European  Union 
bv integrating the  12-star symbol; 

they  are  entitled 

Recital 37 

(37)  Whereas  the  future  work  on  the 
development of  measures relating to the 
quality  of  Community  cross-border 
technical  standardization 
service  and 
must  be  prepared  under the  aegis  of  the 
Commission,  assisted  by  the  Member 
States  in  consultation  with  interested 
of 
parties, 
consumers,  and  with  the  assistance  of  a 
committee set up for this purpose; 

associations 

including 

(37)  Whereas  the  future  work  on  the 
development  of  measures  relating  to  the 
quality  of  Community  cross-border 
technical  standardization 
service  and 
must  be  prepared  under  the  aegis  of  the 
Commission,  assisted  by  the  Member 
States  in  consultation  with  interested 
of 
parties, 
consumers,  and  with  the  assistance  of  a 
this  purpose; 
committee  set  up  for 
whereas 
issuing 
stamps 
Euro-denominated 
should  be studied  in the light of progress 
towards the third  phase of economic and 
monetary union; 

the  possibility  of 
postage 

associations 

including 

Recital 41 

(41)  Whereas  this  Directive  does  not  Deleted 

affect  the  application  of  the rules  of  the 
Treaty,  and  in  particular  its  rules  on 
competition  and  freedom 
to  provide 
services. 

Article  3, first  four  paragraphs 

Member  States  shall  ensure  that  users  -  Unchanged 
enjoy  the  right  to  a  universal  service 
involving  the  provision  of  a  good-quality 
postal  service  for  all  users  at  all  points  on 
their territory  at affordable  prices. 

To that end, Member  States shall  take steps  -  Unchanged 
to  ensure  that  the  density  of  the  points  of 
contact,  and  of  the  points  where  mail  is 
collected,  take  account  of  the  needs  of 
users. 

They  shall  take  steps  to  ensure  that  the  They  shall  take  steps  to  ensure  that  the 
service  providers  guarantee  universal  service  providers  guarantee  every 
universal 
every  working  day,  and  not  less  than  five  working  day,  and  not  less  than  five  days  a 
days 
save 
circumstances  or geographical  conditions: 

exceptional  week save in exceptional  circumstances: 

a  week 

in 

-  one collection  from  the clearance points, 

- unchanged 

-  one  door-to-door  delivery  for  every 

- unchanged 

natural or legal  person. 

Each Member  State shall take the measures  - unchanged 
necessary  to  ensure  that  the  universal 
service  includes  the  following  minimum 
facilities: 

-  the  collection,  transport  and distribution  - unchanged 

of  addressed  mail  items  and  addressed 
books, 
catalogues,  newspapers  and 
periodicals  up  to  2 kg  and  addressed 
postal  packages up to 20 kg, 

-  services  for  registered  items  and  insured  - unchanged 

items. 

Article 5 

Each  Member  State  shall  take  steps  to 
ensure  that  the  universal  service  meets  the 
following  requirements: 

unchanged 

-  it  shall  offer  a  service  guaranteeing  the 
of 
and 

secrecy 

inviolability 
correspondence, 

it  shall  offer  a  service  guaranteeing  the 
of 
inviolability 
correspondence and data protection. 

secrecy 

and 

10 

it  shall  offer  an  identical  service  to  all  - unchanged 
users whose  circumstances  are similar, 

it  shall  be  made  available  without  any  - unchanged 
form  of  discrimination  whatsoever, 
especially  without  discrimination  arising 
from  political,  religious  or  ideological 
considerations, 

it  shall  not  be  interrupted  or  terminated,  - unchanged 
except  in cases offeree  majeure, 

to  the  - unchanged 
it  shall  evolve 
technical, 
social 
environment  and  to  the  demands  of 
users. 

in  response 
and 

economic 

Article 6, first paragraph 

information  by 

Member States  shall  take  steps  to  ensure 
that  users  are  regularly  given  sufficiently 
detailed 
the  universal 
service  provider(s)  regarding  the particular 
features  of  the  universal  services  offered, 
with  special  reference 
to  the  general 
conditions  of  access  to  these  services  as 
well  as  to  prices  and  quality  standard 
shall  be 
levels. 
published,  in  particular,  through the use  of 
publicly  displayed  notices or brochures 

information 

This 

information  by 

Member States  shall  take  steps  to  ensure 
that  users  are  regularly  given  sufficiently 
detailed 
the  universal 
service  provider(s)  regarding  the  particular 
features  of  the  universal  services  offered, 
with  special  reference 
the  general 
conditions  of  access  to  these  services  as 
well  as  to  prices  and  quality  standard 
levels.  This  information  must  be  made 
available to the public. 

to 

Article 9 

are 

that 

entitled 

Member  States  shall  appoint  the  entity  or  Member  States  shall  appoint  the  entity  or 
to  place 
entities 
letter-boxes  on  the  public  highway  for  the 
letter-boxes  on  the  public  highway  for  the 
reception  of  postal 
issue 
items  and  to  issue  reception  of  postal 
postage  stamps  bearing  the  name  of  the  postage  stamps  identifying  the  country  of 
country. 

to  place  entities 

items  and  to 

entitled 

origin. 

that 

are 

11 

Article  17, first  paragraph 

for 

Member  States  shall  take  steps  to  ensure 
that  standards  are  laid  down  for  national 
mail  that  are  compatible  with  those  laid 
down  by 
the 
the  Commission 
intra-Community  cross-border  services. 
However,  regard  being  had  to  specific 
national  conditions,  an  initial  objective 
shall be to ensure that in all Member States 
the  items  of  correspondence  of  the  fastest 
standard  category  achieve  an  end-to-end 
transit  time  of  one  working  day  from  the 
date of deposit to the date of delivery for at 
least 80% of the items dispatched. 

Member  States  shall  take  steps  to  ensure 
that  standards  are  laid  down  for  national 
mail  that  are  compatible  with  those  laid 
for 
down  by 
the 
the  Commission 
intra-Community  cross-border 
services. 
However,  regard  being  had  to  specific 
national  conditions,  the  initial  minimum 
requirement  shall  be  to  ensure  that  in  all 
Member 
of 
States 
the  fastest  standard 
correspondence  of 
category  achieve an end-to-end  transit  time 
of  one  working  day  from  the  date  of 
deposit  to  the  date  of  delivery  for  at  least 
80% of the items dispatched. 

items 

the 

Article 23(2) 

to 

five 

independent 

2.The  review  body  shall  be  composed  of 
up 
experts, 
appointed  by  the  Commission,  who, 
together,  shall  provide  the  different 
areas  of  expertise  required.  They  shall 
collect  all  appropriate  information  on 
developments  in  the  sector,  particularly 
and 
economic, 
concerning 
technological 
aspects,  as  well  as 
information  on quality of service. 

social 

2.The  review  body  shall  be  composed  of 
independent  experts  conversant  with  the 
nature,  role  and  diversity  of  postal 
services in the Member States, appointed 
by  the  Commission  and  who,  together, 
shall  provide  the  different  areas  of 
expertise required.  They shall  collect all 
on 
appropriate 
developments  in  the  sector,  particularly 
and 
economic, 
concerning 
as 
aspects, 
technological 
information  on quality of service. 

social 
as  well 

information 

Article 23 (2a) (new) 

the  Commission 

2a  In  its report  referred  to  in  paragraph  1 
shall  also 
above, 
include  the  opinions  submitted  by  the 
representatives  of  the  postal  operators, 
whether public or private, the workers in 
the postal  sector  and national  consumers 
concerning the sector's evolution  and the 
application of this Directive. 

12 

Article 24, first paragraph 

and 

regulations 

Member  States  shall  bring  into  force  the 
laws, 
administrative 
provisions  necessary  to  comply  with  this 
Directive  not  later  than  six  months  after 
the  date of  its  entry  into  force.  They  shall 
immediately 
the  Commission 
thereof. 

inform 

and 

regulations 

Member  States  shall  bring  into  force  the 
laws, 
administrative 
provisions  necessary  to  comply  with  this 
Directive  not  later  than one  year  after  the 
date  of  its  entry  into  force.  They  shall 
immediately 
the  Commission 
thereof. 

inform 

13 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 412  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

15  08  10 

Catalogue number  : CB-CO-96-404-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-07754-2 

Office for Officiai Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg 

U