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News
© Secretary of State for industry
- France
29 April 1997: following the political accord of 18
December last, the draft directive on the development of postal
services is formally adopted by the Council of Ministers of the
European Union responsible for the postal sector.
18
December 1996: the Fifteen member states agree on the draft
postal directive during an extraordinary Council of European Union
ministers responsible for postal services. This accord is largely
based on a draft drawn up by France and Germany. Press statement.
13
December 1996: the European Summit in Dublin - which brought
together the Heads of State and Government of the Fifteen member
states - requested that the Council of ministers responsible for
postal services "take a decision before the end of the year"
on the liberalisation of postal services in the European Union. The
Summit "noted with regret that the Council did not come to an
agreement on a common position" during the meeting of 28
November.
28
November 1996: Council of European ministers for posts and
telecommunications presided over by Ireland. Main theme: the postal
directive. In spite of the efforts of France and Germany who
presented a new compromise, in order to overcome the sticking points
of the perimeter of reserved services and the calendar for
liberalisation, no solution could bring about the support of the
Commission and a qualified majority of member states.
In conformance with the wishes of French parliament, which adopted
a resolution to this effect 26 November (see François
Fillon's speech in reply to this resolution), the French Government
considers it urgent that a postal directive be adopted which
comprises progressive and controlled liberalisation, so as to
guarantee public service.
26
November 1996: before the French parliament, François
Fillon explained the position of the French government with regards
to the European directive on liberalisation of the postal sector. "Hurried
and uncontrolled liberalisation would destroy the social function of
La Poste."
5
November 1996 : François Fillon, minister for postal
services, telecommunications and space, and Wolfgang Boetsch, the
German minister for postal services and telecommunications, came to
an agreement on a proposal for a European directive on procedures
for liberalising the postal sector. This agreement is based on the
French position. Press statement.
27 September 1996 : Council of European Ministers for postal
services and telecommunications presided over by Ireland. Still no
agreement among the 15 member states on procedures for liberalising
postal services. France is opposed to liberalising the sector too
quickly.
27 June 1996 : Council of European Ministers of Posts and
Telecommunications presided over by Italy. The Council examined the
postal directive based on a compromise worked out by Italy.
Discussions revealed continuing differences between member States on
the general approach to postal policy. France notably recalled the
necessity of taking into consideration the objectives of
public service and regional
development, and recommended harmonisation at a high level for
quality in the framework of a wide perimeter of
reserved services.
During a
press conference, François Fillon declared "There is
a fundamental blocking point. The initial positions of compromise
have been abandoned to result in a texte which comes to widely
liberalising the postal sector".
13
June 1996 : the Regions Committee votes on its position on the
directive concerning postal Europe which appeared in the Official
Journal of the European Community (OJEC), 2 December 1995.
9
May 1996 : the European Parliament adopts its position after the
first reading of the proposed directive concerning postal Europe
which appeared in the OJEC, 2 December 1995.
28 March 1996 : the Economic and Social Committee adopts its
position on the proposed directive concerning postal Europe which
appeared in the OJEC, 2 December 1995 and on the proposed
communication - OJEC n° C 174/41 of 17/06/96.
2 December 1995 : the two texts presented on 26 July 1995
were published in the Official Journal of the European Community
. Communication of the Comission on the application of
competition rules in the Postal Sector and notably on the evaluation
of ceratin measures of State relative to postal services. OJEC n°
C 322/3.
. Proposed directive of the European Parliament and of
the Council concerning the common rules for the development of
community postal services and the improvment of the quality of
service. OJEC n° C 322/22.
27 November 1995 : during the Council of European
Ministers of Posts and Telecommunications ,
France once again firmly defended
the concept of a quality universal service, to be as close as
possible to the public service as it currently exists in France.
Ministers
for the most part examined the proposed directive adopted by the
Comission on 26 July 1995, notably the definition of universal
service and the extent of rights reserved for the operator
responsible for assuring the universal service. After long months of
consultation, the Council of 27 November 1995 thus represents the
first stage of the process of adopting the regulatory framework for
postal Europe.
26 July 1995:the
Commission presented two texts to the Council of European
Ministers of Posts and Telecommunications.
. A commission communication on the application of competition
rules for the postal sector and notably on the evaluation of certain
State measures relative to postal services.
. A proposed directive from the European Parliament and from the
Council concerning the common rules for the development of community
postal services and the improvment of the quality of service.
The face of the postal sector in Europe has been under review for
the last four years.Background.
14 January 1997 : the accord between the press, La Poste and
the Government was signed today. This includes the new tariff
structure which will apply from 1997 to 2001. Press statement.
September
1996 : the Press-La Poste-Parliamentary tripartite commission
restarted its work. The commission is working on the application of
decisions taken by the round table (voir infra). This refers notably
to the establishment of a new tariffs structure for the transport of
newspapers which will be set up from 1 January 1997.
4
July 1996 : François Fillon brings to a close the work of
the round table which brought together representatives of the Press,
La Poste, Parliament and the State .The agreement reached allows for
indepth renovation of relations between the press and La Poste over
the next five years. This round table was
set up on 15 November by
the minister responsible for the sector, François Fillon. Its
objective was to define a new framework for relations between the
press and state run La Poste.
In France, the State gives aid to the Press through direct and
indirect aid: extremely low tax on added value, special rates for
rail transport and reduced postal rates.
Until recently, the "Laurent accords", signed in March
1980, established the principle of a three-way share for the finance
of newspaper transport: one third covered by tariffs and thus by the
Press itself, the remainder absorbed by the State and La Poste.
The evolution of our economic and social environment made it
necessary to adapt these provisions. It is for this reason that
the contractual plan
signed by the State and La Poste in October 1994 for the 1994/1997
period includes setting up a new framework for relations between La
Poste and the Press.
This round table prinicpally examined the themes of quality of the
postal service, tranparency of the cost of newspaper transport and
delivery, cost-sharing, the development of contractual relations
between the Press and La Poste, and improving the targeting of aid.
Since January 1 1996, all Government departments pay for their
mail. Up to then, a "postal exemption" facility meant
they did not have to pay for most of their mail.
The law of 2
July 1990 on reform of the P&T established the principle of a
just fee for the public services offered by La Poste. The Postal
schedule of conditions allows for the services provided by La Poste
to the State to be paid for based on postal tariffs as for any other
client. A transition period was nevertheless defined: until 31
December 1995 the State continued to pay a global sum to compensate
for postal exemptions.
17 April to 2 May 1997 : the Postal Operations Board of the
UPU took place in Berne, Switzerland. Since the congress of Seoul,
the Board is made up of 40 Member-states (including France) of the
189 which make up the UPU. It meets once a year, always in Berne.
The French delegation is led by the Director of international
affairs of La Poste (French Post Office). The minister responsible
for the postal sector only participates in Board commissions on
postal regulations and plenary meetings .
The
Directorate of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) held its
annual session from 17 to 25 October 1995 in Bern. The most
important moments for France during this session were the following:
- French remains the official language of the Universal Postal
Union.
- France reaffirmed the importance it attaches to the promotion
of international technical cooperation, especially with less
advanced countries.
- France was admitted as a member of the Strategic Planning
group of the UPU Board, and also as a member of GT 1/1, a work
group responsible for efforts relative to the evolution of
structures and missions of the UPU.
- France's Christian Gheorghiev was elected to the post of under
director for cooperation matters in the International Bureau, a
permanent body of the UPU.
26 June 1996 : first meeting of the technical group of the
European Committee for Normalisation set up on a European Commission
mandate and designed to propose measures for normalisation in the
postal sector. This technical group brings together representatives
of national normalisation organisations (the AFNOR for France) , and
operators, and those involved in the sector. Its chairman is Marc
Sandrin of La Poste.
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Regulations and economic situation
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