Monday, October 01, 2007

Going Un-Postal

The European Union votes to end postal monopolies:

EU telecommunications ministers gave the green light on Monday to end state monopolies for delivering letters, the European Union's presidency announced.

The measure will come into effect on January 1, 2011, although 11 EU member states will get a two-year grace period, said Herve Novelli, French minister of state for businesses and foreign trade after reaching agreement with his EU colleagues.

....The European Union's executive arm is eager to build on the perceived success of Britain, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden, which have already opened their postal market to competition.

It has predicted few changes for consumers, saying that new competitors would probably try to differentiate themselves from existing state-controlled post offices with lower costs and tailor-made services.

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