REPORT ON LIBERALIZATION OF POSTAL SERVICES
PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
POSTAL SERVICES: ANTITRUST AUTHORITY SAYS REGULATIONS HINDER COMPETITION
Ministerial Decree on utility bills and bank statements may create distortions. Report submitted to Minister of Communications
The introduction of elements of competition into the postal services sector, in view of the complete liberalization of the industry in 2009, is being hindered by some national regulations. This is the view of the Italian Competition Authority as expressed in a report sent to the Minister of Communications. The Antitrust Authority points out that the rules must guarantee the full and effective opening up of the mail system to competition so as to develop the industry and improve the quality of the services offered to consumers.
Specifically, regulations regarding mass mailings (entrusted to Poste Italiane in large quantities such as bank statements and utility bills like those for electricity and the telephone), as set out in the Ministerial Decree of 12 May 2006, risk creating obstacles to the process of liberalization which is under way. The Ministerial Decree seems to leave Poste Italiane with too much discretion in establishing the technical conditions governing the application of prices for mass mailings: this is a solution that risks creating a seriously distorted competitive framework.
In the Authority's view, it would be far preferable if, as occurs in other regulated industries, the management of standardization and homologation procedures were delegated to the regulator, since this is a neutral third party with respect to all companies operating in the industry.
The Authority urges the Minister of Communications, in his role as regulator of the postal sector, to assess the effective compatibility of the maximum charges established by the decree of 12 May 2006 with the principles of competition, and to guarantee a framework of certain, non-discriminatory rules that will create the necessary incentives for business in view of the highly desirable liberalization of the postal sector, the deadline for which can no longer be delayed.
Rome, 8 May 2007