EU: Agreement on Postal Services

Under the co-decision procedure, the Conciliation Committee of representatives of the Council and the European Parliament has reached agreement on the Directive concerning common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service. The Directive creates a common internal market in the postal sector and establishes common rules to ensure greater harmonisation of the conditions governing the postal sector in the Community. It also provides for the gradual and controlled liberalisation of the market while guaranteeing a universal postal service to all users throughout the Member States. The institutions each have a period of six weeks from 6 November to approve the agreed text.