Cross-border mail is usually handled by at least two postal operators: the sending operator pays the receiving operator terminal dues to remunerate the costs of handling and delivering cross-border mail.
The European Commission published a preliminary notice on the "Reims II Agreement" in which it concluded that several aspects, in particular the link between increases in terminal dues and the quality of service, Level 3 access and the treatment of delayed, lost and damaged mail, had to be changed.
Therefore, in September 1998, a Supplementary Agreement was signed by twelve postal operators (the Public Postal Operators from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy Norway, Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Luxembourg). This Agreement provides that terminal dues could reach 80% of domestic tariffs for priority mail in 2001, provided quality targets are met. Thus, no increase in terminal dues will take place during the transitional period if the quality of service goes down. It sets standards for the quality of the service of the delivering operator and the parties must also grant each other access to the "generally available domestic rates" in the country of delivery (Level 3 access to bulk mail rates).
In a recent notice (O.J. C 371 of 1/12/1998), the Commission said that it is intended to take a favourable view of the REIMS II Agreement as amended by the Supplementary Agreement.
This article is based and incorporates information provided by the European Commission (press releases) and is intended for general information. Specialist advice should be sought before acting on it.
The European Commission published a preliminary notice on the "Reims II Agreement" in which it concluded that several aspects, in particular the link between increases in terminal dues and the quality of service, Level 3 access and the treatment of delayed, lost and damaged mail, had to be changed.
Therefore, in September 1998, a Supplementary Agreement was signed by twelve postal operators (the Public Postal Operators from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy Norway, Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Luxembourg). This Agreement provides that terminal dues could reach 80% of domestic tariffs for priority mail in 2001, provided quality targets are met. Thus, no increase in terminal dues will take place during the transitional period if the quality of service goes down. It sets standards for the quality of the service of the delivering operator and the parties must also grant each other access to the "generally available domestic rates" in the country of delivery (Level 3 access to bulk mail rates).
In a recent notice (O.J. C 371 of 1/12/1998), the Commission said that it is intended to take a favourable view of the REIMS II Agreement as amended by the Supplementary Agreement.
This article is based and incorporates information provided by the European Commission (press releases) and is intended for general information. Specialist advice should be sought before acting on it.
