EU clears way for postal competition

[britwrit]

[This is from the Financial Times. It sounds dire but it looks like nations will be able to keep funding the USO at a loss. So who knows...?]


EU clears way for postal competition
By Andrew Bounds in Luxembourg

Published: October 1 2007 18:29 | Last updated: October 1 2007 18:29

Postal companies should be free to compete for customers across the European Union from 2011 as governments on Monday ended a year-long deadlock over opening the €88bn ($125bn, £61bn) market.

Only Luxembourg opposed the decision, after concerns from France and Italy were addressed. The grand duchy and 10 other countries in the 27-member bloc won the right to delay domestic liberalisation for two years.

The move will, in theory, allow any operator to carry letters under the 50g “reservedâ€