ROYAL MAIL SHOULD BENEFIT FROM POSTAL SERVICES LIBERALISATION

4.00.24pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Jul 2007

The European Parliament has today agreed a report calling for the liberalisation of postal services across all twenty-seven states of the European Union. The Parliament, which shares co-decision powers with the Council of Ministers for this legislation, will aim to fully open up postal services to competition by 2011.

Graham Watson, Liberal Democrat MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, has welcomed the legislation because it will bring much of Europe into line with the current British approach to postal services.

Commenting Graham said:

"When full liberalisation arrives in 2011, we want to see the Royal Mail in a position where it will not only be able to survive competition from other postal service providers from abroad, but also where it will be able to prosper in other markets across Europe. That kind of cross border competition that will be of benefit to everyone because it will increase choice and efficiency for the public.

"Liberal Democrat MEPs will be fully supporting the Universal Obligation across Europe whereby letters must still be delivered and collected at remote outlaying locations and islands 5 times a week. This EU law is to improve delivery of letters and packets, and is not connected with the debate in the UK about whether to close or to save rural post offices."