2016/2010(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Notes that implementation of the Postal Services Directive helped in opening domestic markets for competition but did not lead to the accomplishment of internal market for postal services;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes the Commission’s confirmation that the Postal Services Directive does not require any particular ownership structure for universal service providers (USPs); believes that USPs should not be prevented from investing and innovating in the provision of efficient and quality postal services; encourages providers and the public authorities to invest more in the postal sector so as to ensure its modernisation, renewal and the quality of the service it provides; considers it unacceptable to restrict the funding arrangements which Member States can use to perform their public service functions and that they must be free to choose whatever funding method they deem appropriate;

Amendment 11 #

Lara COMI, Giovanni LA VIA, Alessandra MUSSOLINI, Salvatore Domenico POGLIESE, Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT, Andreas SCHWAB

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Believes the specific regulations applicable to the postal services sector to play a key role in framing the relations between postal operators and those between operators and customers; stresses the fact that competition law also has an important role to play, especially as regards the relationship between governments and national or state-run postal services;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Calls on~~Notes that in some Member States, Universal Service Obligation, due to high level of fixed costs and dramatic decline in letter volumes, is not any longer sustainable; Notes that in all Member States the decline of letter volumes makes provision of universal service more and more difficult; Notes that it is common practice that designated universal service providers need to finance the provision of universal service through revenues from different activities, such as financial services or parcel delivery, in order to make it sustainable; Therefore, calls the Commission to constantly monitor the evolving postal sector, including the growth of e- commerce and e-substitution, ~~and to respond where necessary to ensure the sustainability of the USO~~respond to the abovementioned situation with a legislative proposal aiming to ensure the sustainability of the USO and to allow for greater flexibility in applying the Postal Services Directive in Member States where the USO becomes not sustainable; Considers that, in order to ensure sustainability of the universal service provision, limiting the scope and collection and delivery frequency of the USO should be carefully considered;

Amendment 13 #

Edward CZESAK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to monitor the evolving postal sector, including the growth of e-commerce and e-substitution, and to respond where necessary to ensure both the sustainability of the USO; and the quality of the services provided throughout the postal sector;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to monitor the evolving postal sector, including the growth of e-commerce and e-substitution, and to respond where necessary to ensure the sustainability of the USO, including by promoting flexible implementation of Postal Services Directive at local level;

Amendment 15 #

Herbert DORFMANN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to monitor the evolving postal sector, including the growth of e-commerce and e-substitution, and to respond where necessary ~~to ensure the sustainability of the USO~~, without jeopardising the USO on at least five working days per week and to ensure that even regions, towns and municipalities with low population densities and in peripheral locations will continue to be supplied on every working day;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Points to the close link between the development of the postal sector and that of e-commerce; Calls on the Commission to monitor the evolving postal sector, including the growth of e-commerce and e- substitution, and to respond where necessary to ensure the sustainability of the USO;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to monitor the evolving postal sector, including the growth of e-commerce and e-substitution, and to respond where necessary to ensure the sustainability of the USO; stresses that the diversity of postal services in Member States means that the Postal Services Directive needs to be applied with a degree of flexibility;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to monitor the evolving postal sector, including the growth of e-commerce and e-substitution, and to respond where necessary to ensure the sustainability of the USO and emphasises the right of Member States to make use of the flexibility offered by the Postal Services Directive in this respect;

Amendment 19 #

Robert ROCHEFORT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to monitor the evolving postal sector, including ~~the growth of e-commerce and e-substitution~~parcel delivery, and to respond where necessary to ensure the sustainability of the USO;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1a. Considers that the level of transposition of the Directive is not satisfactory; Notes that Commission initiated infringement proceedings against two Member States on issues of content; Considers that in some Member States several issues, such as effective structural separation of the regulatory functions from activities associated with ownership and control, conditions governing access to networks and authorisation requirements might not be transposed properly; Therefore, calls the Commission to look closely at inconsistencies in the application of the Directive between different Member States and to monitor whether the legislative measures adopted by Member States constitute complete transposition of the Directive and if not, undertake decisive actions to rectify the situation and to ensure proper competition within the sector;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls the Commission to analyse the reasons for high costs of cross-border delivery; calls the Commission to undertake measures to lift barriers to cross-border and domestic competition, such as closed terminal dues agreements, labelling and authorisation requirements, unjustified VAT exemptions, special or exclusive rights for public operators and other forms of state subsidies, in order to level playing field for incumbent and alternative operators;

Amendment 21 #

Herbert DORFMANN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on Member States to ensure that the universal service provider(s) provide(s) every working day - at least five days a week - a home delivery to every natural or legal person, even in remote or sparsely populated areas;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Expresses its concern with the tendency to offer rebates, discounts and special prices for big customers like bulk mailers that no longer reflect the real labour costs, which still comprise 80% of the total costs of postal services, as well as the costs relating to maintenance and improvement of the network; b. Reiterates that transparency concerning all special prices, discounts, conditions or rebates for big customers, is one of the key elements of the Postal Services Directive, in order to ensure non- discriminatory treatment of all postal users; c. Calls upon the National Regulatory Authorities to closely monitor pricing policies and to take action in those cases, where these prices no longer reflect the real costs of the postal services concerned;

Amendment 23 #

Dita CHARANZOVÁ, Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Stresses the need to counter cherry- picking by new entrants in the postal sector, for example, by offering financial compensation to the incumbents, in particular, to the universal service providers;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Recognises the decision~~Notes the preliminary ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Case C340/13, bpost SA v Institut belge des services postaux et des télécommunications (IBPT), ~~as an endorsement of the legitimate goal of stimulating demand for postal servic~~which stated that principle of anti-discrimination referred to in article 12 of the Directive does not preclude the introduction by universal service provider (USP) of quantity discounts per business customer; However, the system of operational discounts as per preliminary ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union in joined Cases C-287/06 to C-292/06 is not compatible with abovementioned article 12; Points out that Court ruled that if an USP applies special tariffs, it must, in order to observe the principles of transparency and non-discrimination, apply them equally between third parties;

Amendment 25 #

Dita CHARANZOVÁ, Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ, Lucy ANDERSON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Commends the establishment~~Reiterates its support to the Postal Users Forum, which was established in 2011 by the Commission, aiming at submitting the views of the Ppostal User ~~Forum for postal services user representativ~~vices users and discuss with postal services operators the actual level of end-user satisfaction, identify the business-user particular requirements and discuss how to improve e-commerce delivery; Is of the opinion that the Forum was very useful and should meet regularly in order to confront different users’ expectations with postal services, operators and ~~trade unions~~work together with trade unions and other stakeholders for better solutions for parcel delivery;

Amendment 26 #

Daniel DALTON, Edward CZESAK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Urges the Commission to take full account of the occurrence, and further risk, of downgrading of job security and terms and conditions for workers in the postal sector, and to make specific provision to mitigate and avoid this in any proposed new legislationlook in detail into the development of postal services in relation to new emerging digital operators and assess the potential implications and opportunities for existing postal services and their employees;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Urges~~Calls on the Commission to take full account of the occurrence, and further risk, of downgrading of job security and terms and conditions for workers in the postal sector, and to make specific provision to mitigate and avoid this in any proposed new legislationmonitor the level of job sustainability for workers in the postal sector; encourages Member States to develop policies aimed at further improving skills, education and training of workers in this sector;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

Amendment 3 #

Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the ~~fundamental~~important role of the universal service obligation (USO) in the postal sector with regard to the development of a fair single market for citizens and consumers; notes the trend towards a narrower scope for the USO; recognises the benefits of the Keep Me Posted EU campaign to promote consumer choicefor citizens and consumers; notes that Universal Service Obligation is applied very differently across Member States in terms of scope, collection and delivery frequency, the level of service and exemptions due to exceptional circumstances or geographical conditions; recognises the benefits of the Keep Me Posted EU campaign to promote consumer choice, but is of the opinion that whenever accepted by users, e-substitution should be encouraged;

Amendment 30 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Maria GRAPINI, Hugues BAYET, Miltiadis KYRKOS, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Liisa JAAKONSAARI, Virginie ROZIÈRE, Olga SEHNALOVÁ, Catherine STIHLER, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Urges the Commission to take full account of the occurrence, and further risk, of downgrading of job security and terms and conditions for workers in the postal sector, and to make specific provision to mitigate and avoid this in any proposed new legislation; and to require all operators to fully apply the legal or contractual provisions concerning employment, working and social security conditions and the exercise of fundamental rights, including the right to negotiate, conclude and enforce collective bargaining agreements and to take industrial action;

Amendment 31 #

Robert ROCHEFORT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Urges the Commission to take full account of the occurrence, and further risk, of downgrading of job security and terms and conditions for workers in the ~~postal~~delivery sector, and to make specific provision to mitigate and avoid this in any proposed new legislation;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Welcomes the growth in employment opportunities in the parcel delivery sector; underlines the benefits of quality and sustainable jobs in postal and delivery services, including on providing high and consistent standards of service to consumers; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that decent rights for workers in this sector are guaranteed, irrespective of employment status;

Amendment 33 #

Dita CHARANZOVÁ, Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Points in this respect to the tendency to replace postal workers with self- employed persons and the often precarious working conditions of the latter; calls upon the Commission to co- operate with Member States to put an end to false self-employment, i.e. self- employed working for mainly one service provider, and to encourage self-employed to organise themselves in such a manner that they receive a fair compensation for their services;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that ~~geographical coverage and accessibility to universal services for parcel deliveries can be improved, especially for vulnerable consumers and those in remote areas~~the quality, accessibility and reliability of the parcel deliveries can be improved and the trust of consumers strengthened, especially as regards cross- border deliveries and e-commerce;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that geographical coverage and accessibility to universal services for parcel deliveries can and must be improved, especially for vulnerable consumers and those in remote areas; stresses the importance of ensuring accessibility to postal services for persons with disabilities and the consistency of the Postal Services Directive and the Accessibility Act;

Amendment 36 #

Edward CZESAK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that geographical coverage and accessibility to universal services for parcel deliveries can be improved, especially for vulnerable consumers and those in remote areas, and draws attention to the steadily increasing share of the market taken up by cross-border delivery services, which should be supported;

Amendment 37 #

Robert ROCHEFORT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that, while the situation varies from one Member State to another, geographical coverage and accessibility to universal services for parcel deliveries in the EU can be improved, especially for vulnerable consumers and those in remote areas;

Amendment 38 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Maria GRAPINI, Hugues BAYET, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Liisa JAAKONSAARI, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that geographical coverage and accessibility to universal services for parcel deliveries can be improved, especially for vulnerable consumers and those in rural and remote areas;

Amendment 39 #

Herbert DORFMANN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the fundamental role of the universal service obligation (USO) in the postal sector with regard to the development of a fair single market for citizens and consumers; notes the trend towards a narrower scope for the USO; and the flexibility for Member States to define the universal service to fit their domestic circumstances; underlines the possibility for national regulatory authorities (NRAs) to grant derogations from minimum obligations, based on objective and published criteria and subject to regular monitoring; recognises the benefits of the Keep Me Posted EU campaign to promote consumer choice;

Amendment 40 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Maria GRAPINI, Hugues BAYET, Miltiadis KYRKOS, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Liisa JAAKONSAARI, Catherine STIHLER, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Highlights the findings of the Commission’s public consultation on cross-border parcel delivery; notes that the Commission intends to launch measures in 2016 to improve price transparency and enhance regulatory oversight of parcel delivery;

Amendment 41 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Maria GRAPINI, Marlene MIZZI, Hugues BAYET, Miltiadis KYRKOS, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Liisa JAAKONSAARI, Virginie ROZIÈRE, Catherine STIHLER, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Underlines the potential role of EU funding mechanisms such as Horizon 2020 and the European Structural and Investment Funds in facilitating innovation in postal and delivery services including e-commerce options of benefit for consumers, the environment and SMEs and solutions with social inclusion and accessibility objectives;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Highlights that the Alternative Dispute Resolution Directive and the online dispute resolution platform may benefit consumers and businesses in cross-border transactions; calls for further mechanisms for adequate consumer redress in postal services to be introduced, including a collective approach to redress where needed.platform established by the Regulation on online dispute resolution for consumer disputes may benefit consumers and businesses in cross-border transactions; Deplores the fact that until now, 10 months after transposition deadline, only 20 Member States transposed the Directive and consequently millions of European citizens are deprived of effective redress mechanism;

Amendment 43 #

Lara COMI, Alberto CIRIO, Alessandra MUSSOLINI, Salvatore Domenico POGLIESE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Highlights that the Alternative Dispute Resolution Directive and the online dispute resolution platform may benefit consumers and businesses in cross-border transactions; ~~calls for further mechanisms for adequate consumer r~~points out the existence of the European Small Claims Procedure~~ss in postal services to be introduced, including a collective approach to redress where needed.~~ (ESCP) as a useful recourse for consumers and businesses in cross-border transactions;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

Amendment 45 #

Birgit COLLIN-LANGEN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Draws attention to the fact that large companies hold the lion’s share of the market in the postal sector; urges the Commission to facilitate access for SMEs in that sector both to the internal market and to third country markets;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Is convinced that consumers should be able to easily compare the performance of different postal operators, including price, coverage and speed of delivery;

Amendment 48 #

Lambert van NISTELROOIJ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Calls on the Commission to launch measures addressing the non-transparent system of terminal dues in order for consumers and businesses, in particular SMEs, to be able to reap the benefits of a true single market for postal services;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Recalls that the European Parliament invited the Commission to explore the possibilities of creating a Pan-European Trustmark for e-Commerce, and whether such a Trustmark could also contribute to ensuring quality and reliability for integrated delivery services;

Amendment 5 #

Lambert van NISTELROOIJ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the fundamental role of the universal service obligation (USO) in the postal sector with regard to the development of a fair single market for citizens ~~and~~, consumers and SMEs; notes the trend towards a narrower scope for the USO; recognises the benefits of the Keep Me Posted EU campaign to promote consumer choice;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to launch measures in the first half of 2016 to improve price transparency and regulatory oversight of cross-border parcel delivery; Calls on the Commission to address properly all problems that consumers and businesses face in the delivery market, in particular unsatisfactory delivery times, lack of information or lack of clarity concerning liability for loss or damage;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Regrets that national competition in the letter and parcel markets in Member States has not fully expanded across the European Union despite full market opening across the European Union by 2013; highlights that high prices of cross- border parcel delivery, lack of transparency, affordability and accessibility are some of the biggest obstacles for consumers and retailers in online trade across the European Union; notes that affordable and reliable parcel delivery services without unjustifiable inconsistencies are important in realising the full potential of the Digital Single Market;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Notes that the development of cross- border postal services within the European Union could benefit from the creation of platforms for distribution services, from the launch of price comparison websites, improvement of ‘track and trace’ systems and other such initiatives which promote consumer awareness;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Notes that cooperation between postal national regulatory authorities (NRAs), the Commission, competition authorities, consumer protection bodies, e-retailers and all operators in cross-border delivery should be encouraged to improve the functioning of the postal sector;

Amendment 6 #

Dita CHARANZOVÁ, Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ, Lucy ANDERSON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that the liberalisation of postal services will result in a growth in competition, better use and allocation of resources, a reduction in tariffs and a substantial increase in the quality of services provided, at a far more affordable price;

Amendment 7 #

Edward CZESAK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Draws attention to the fact that Member States are bound by a fundamental obligation to provide basic public postal services ('universal service obligation); notes the current trend towards reducing the range of postal services available as a result of technological change, i.e. the development of electronic means of communication, which is reducing demand for traditional postal services and changing customer expectations; takes the view that, in the face of this trend, discussions will need to be held on the scope of the universal service obligation laid down under Directive 97/67/EU;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes the Commission’s confirmation that the Postal Services Directive does not require any particular ownership structure for universal service providers (USPs); believes that USPs ~~should not be prevented from~~and alternative operators should be encouraged to invest~~ing~~ and innovat~~ing~~e in the provision of efficient and quality postal services;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes the Commission’s confirmation that the Postal Services Directive does not require any particular ownership structure for universal service providers (USPs); believes that USPs should ~~not be~~be encouraged to, rather than prevented from, investing and innovating in the provision of efficient and accessible quality postal services, at an appropriate price for European consumers, and in particular those living in rural areas and with a low income;

source: 580.471

2016/05/09 EMPL 88 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that in recent years technological advances and digitalisation have transformed the postal services sector and that the modernisation and diversification of postal services has had a major impact on employment in the sector; notes that letter volumes are in decline in the EU while the express delivery sector is increasingly in demand;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Underlines that postal services play an important role in maintaining social inclusion and employment in rural and mountainous areas and therefore calls on the Member States to ensure that universal services are guaranteed at least five days a week as provided by the Directive 2008/6/EC;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Is of the view that the overall volume of mail has fallen sharply, a phenomenon which has been exacerbated by the substitution of paper mail by digital tools (e-substitution), in addition to the economic crisis;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and regional authorities to assess the impact of the Postal Services Directive (97/67/EC as amended by 2008/6/EC) on European citizens, especially those living in remote, rural and mountainous areas, to ensure that a balanced provision of universal services is guaranteed in all geographical areas;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that ~~the number of part-time workers, agency workers and bogus self- employed persons in the sector has increased and that the general trend is towards more flexible employment contract~~following the deregulation of the sector desired by the EU, not only has there been no increase in employment but, on the contrary, there has been wage deflation and an increase in the number of casual, part-time and agency jobs and of bogus self-employed workers; notes the different employment conditions being offered by incumbent operators and new operators;

Amendment 14 #

2. Notes that, as predicted by the European trade union movement prior to the approval of the third Postal Services Directive, the number of part-time workers, agency workers and bogus self- employed persons in the sector has increased ~~and that the general trend is towards more flexible employmen~~, that levels of unionisation of the workforce have declined as a result of aggressive anti-union policies by some corporations, and that precarious, insecure work has become far more prevalent in the sector; notes that liberalisation has directly caused a deterioration in the pay and conditions of postal workers as competing providers target con~~tract~~ly profitable areas, and seek to gain an advantage by driving down wages and standards;

Amendment 15 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Javi LÓPEZ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that employment by universal service providers has declined due to falling letter volumes, combined with modernisation and increasing automation; notes however that the number of part-time workers, agency workers and bogus self- employed persons in the sector has increased and that the general trend is towards more flexible employment contracts without adequate protection for employees;

Amendment 16 #

Heinz K. BECKER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that the number of part-time workers, agency workers and bogus self- employed persons in the sector has increased and that the general trend is towards more flexible employment contracts; welcomes the development of new working time models that enable workers, for example, to improve the balance between family and working life, to complete in-service training or to have the option of remaining professionally active even if they are unable or do not wish to be in full-time employment; notes that new, flexible employment contracts must exclude potential risks such as worker overload or pay levels that are not commensurate with performance; calls on the Member States to guarantee appropriate working conditions;

Amendment 17 #

Patrick LE HYARIC, Rina Ronja KARI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that the number of part-time workers, agency workers and bogus self- employed persons in the sector has increased and that the general trend is towards more flexible employment contracts; stresses the need for labour market flexibility on the one hand and for the economic and social security of workers on the other;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Notes~~Deplores the fact that the number of part-time workers, agency workers and bogus self- employed persons in the sector has increased and that the general trend is towards more ~~flexible~~precarious employment contracts; notes that opening the market up to competition has not improved workers’ conditions;

Amendment 19 #

Romana TOMC

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that the number of part-time workers, agency workers and bogus self- employed persons in the sector has increased and that the general trend is towards more flexible employment contracts; notes that, owing to technological advances enabling us to access services and communications from home, the number of post offices, and consequently also the number of employees in this sector, has fallen;

Amendment 2 #

Georges BACH, Anne SANDER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that in recent years technological advances and digitalisation have transformed the postal services sector and that the modernisation and diversification of postal services has had a major impact on employment in the sector, in particular in rural areas; calls on the Member States to accelerate broadband deployment in rural areas so that they can take full advantage of the benefits of the single digital market, in particular the creation of jobs, competitiveness, innovation and access to new online services, especially online postal services;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 21 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI, Siôn SIMON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Is concerned about the extremely high amount of outsourcing in the postal sector and the frequently accompanying evasion of working and employment standards; highlights in this context the long-term social and financial implications of precarious employment for individuals as well as social security systems;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes with concern that the data from the five member states that had already fully liberalised their postal services prior to the transposition of the third Postal Services Directive demonstrates that it results in a loss of jobs, a reduction in the quality of the services provided, and an increase in costs for consumers; notes that, for example, the privatisation of Royal Mail in Britain resulted in 55,000 job losses in three years; and that many rural communities in Member States have been left without any postal service as a result of liberalisation;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to carry out monitoring activities to verify, and subsequently curb, the exploitation of the situation of bogus self-employed workers; urges the Commission and the Member States, more generally, to prevent the flexibility of employment contracts from having a negative impact on workers;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Condemns the Commission for imposing the third Postal Services Directive when its own preconditions had not been met in terms of ensuring quality working conditions for employees in the sector were guaranteed, and that full accessibility to postal services, including for rural citizens, would be guaranteed and financed;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Notes that there are~~Regrets that the opening of postal markets to competition has not contributed to maintaining sustainable and quality employment within universal service providers and has led to substantial differences in working conditions between universal service providers and competing companies providing specific postal services;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that there are substantial differences in working conditions and wages between universal service providers and competing companies providing specific postal services;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Believes that in order to protect both working conditions and the standard of service, postal services should be a publicly regulated monopoly and that the most efficient way to ensure universal provision of affordable postal services to all is through a reserved area or regulated monopoly;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Takes the view that a universal service should be provided to all users throughout a national territory, including the harder- to-access areas such as rural or mountain areas, where the supply of the service is loss-making and should be compensated;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes that the deregulation of the postal service desired by the EU has not increased employment but, rather, has led to a general deterioration in working conditions in the sector; points out that EU intervention has also caused a general deterioration of the service provided by operators, be they incumbents or new entrants, causing numerous problems to EU citizens who, as they no longer receive their post on a regular basis, often have to pay very heavy fines for delays in the payment of bills, or endure other difficulties caused by an inefficient postal service;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that in recent years hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost since the liberalisation of European postal services was launched as a consequence of market opening, and that a secondary contributing factor to job losses has been technological advances and digitalisation have transformed the postal services sector and that the modernisation and diversification of postal services has had a major impact on employment in the sector;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Is concerned about the increasing deterioration of the postal service in mountain areas and in the less densely populated municipalities; points out that due to the company restructuring required by deregulation, an increasing number of post offices are closing down, which is having a severe impact on citizens, particularly the elderly and persons with disabilities;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the role played by the social partners, who in many Member States have worked together with universal service providers in an effort to make the transformation of the postal services sector socially sustainable; is critical of the leaders of multinational corporations now operating in the sector who have suggested in the context of the economic crisis that cutting jobs and lowering wage levels of postal workers, as well as further liberalisation and less regulation, is the solution to falling revenues in the sector;

Amendment 32 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the ~~role played by the~~important role of social partners, who in many Member States ~~have~~ worked together with universal service providers in an effort to make the transformation of the postal services sector socially sustainable;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the role played by the social partners, particularly trade unions, who in many Member States have worked together with universal service providers in an effort to make the transformation of the postal services sector socially sustainable;

Amendment 35 #

Richard HOWITT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Is concerned about 'cherry picking' of more profitable services by contractors which can damage the viability of other postal services and undermine the universal service obligation; calls on the Commission to study this problem and bring forward action to prevent it taking place;

Amendment 36 #

Jana TOOM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Notes that the postal service infrastructures are of particular importance for regional development, especially in rural areas. Therefore calls on the Commission and Member States to exchange best practice on the universal service providers;

Amendment 37 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Javi LÓPEZ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Highlights the importance of strong and independent social partners in the postal sector, an institutionalized social dialogue and the participation of employees in company matters;

Amendment 38 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Javi LÓPEZ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Condemns the Commission for imposing the third Postal Services Directive when its own preconditions had not been met in terms of ensuring quality working conditions for employees in the sector were guaranteed, and that full accessibility to postal services, including for rural citizens, would be guaranteed and financed;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Recalls that the anticipated full market opening of the postal sector should not lead to a concentration of private companies in more profitable regions such as densely populated areas; reiterates that the access to postal services is a right of citizens disregarding their place of residence; calls on Member States to take measures as set out by Directive 97/67/EC to ensure that there is an appropriate density of access points to postal services in rural and remote regions;

Amendment 4 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that in recent years technological advances and digitalisation have transformed the postal services sector and that the modernisation and diversification of postal services has had a major impact on employment in the sector, with an average decrease in postal employment of 4,4 % between 2012 and 2013 in the EU28;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Draws attention to a number of instances of unfair competition, at the ~~casualties of which have been~~expense of the workers in the postal sector;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Draws attention to a number of instances of unfair competition~~, the casualties of which have been worker~~ which has contributed to the degradation of working conditions in the sector;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Draws attention to a number of instances of unfair competition~~Notes the unfair competition phenomena that are typical of the sector, the casualties of which have been workers ~~in the sector~~;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Draws attention to a number of instances of unfair competition, the casualties of which have been workers in the sector; in this regard, calls on the Commission and the Member States to punish, in an appropriate manner, any conduct which could be regarded as unfair competition, to the detriment of workers;

Amendment 44 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Javi LÓPEZ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI, Siôn SIMON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the importance of monitoring compliance with mandatory driving and resting times as well as working hours in the postal sector; recalls that all tasks in relation to the activity of an employee are to be considered working time; stresses likewise the importance of monitoring compliance with European standards regarding the protection of health and safety at work, including conditions in vehicles, for all people involved in postal deliveries irrespective of whether their employment status is self-employed, subcontractor, temporary staff member or contract worker; believes that monitoring should take place by means of digital monitoring devices installed in the vehicle;

Amendment 45 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Believes that a balance should be struck between free competition, consumer requirements, sustainability of the universal service and its financing, and the maintenance of jobs;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Is concerned about attempts to circumvent existing minimum wage regulations by increasing the workload to an extend which cannot be managed during paid working hours;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Stresses that in order to ensure there is a level playing field in terms of competition, existing obstacles and barriers need to be removed, such as the differences in VAT treatment between the universal operator and the other private companies that are competing for the operation of postal services, or the fact that some essential services such as the forwarding of judicial documents, remain the sole responsibility of the universal operator;

Amendment 48 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Recommends that public tender procedures for the awarding of postal services by government departments be monitored, in order to counter the direct award of contracts and thereby comply with EU legislation;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Points out that ~~jobs have been created~~ as a result of restructuring and the introduction of new activities in the postal services sector ~~and that, in keeping with these~~workers need to adapt to new circumstances~~, workers need to~~ and learn new skills; draws attention to the importance of training, further training and retraining in order to acquire 21st century working skills such as digital skills, team work, problem solving and critical thinking;

Amendment 5 #

Patrick LE HYARIC, Rina Ronja KARI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that in recent years technological advances and digitalisation have transformed the postal services sector and that the modernisation and diversification of postal services has had a major ~~impa~~adverse effect on employment in the sector; notes that 300 000 jobs in the sector have been lost in the last 20 years, all operators taken together;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Points out that jobs have been created as a result of restructuring and the introduction of new activities such as logistics, financial services and telephony in the postal services sector and that, in keeping with these new circumstances, workers need to learn new skills; draws attention to the importance of training, further training and retraining;

Amendment 51 #

Romana TOMC

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Points out that new jobs ~~have~~could been created as a result of restructuring and the introduction of new activities in the postal services sector and that, in keeping with these new circumstances, workers need to learn new skills and the working environment and working conditions need to be adapted; draws attention to the importance of training, further training and retraining;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Points out that jobs have been created as a result of restructuring and the introduction of new activities in the postal services sector and that, in keeping with these new circumstances, workers need to learn new skills; draws attention to the importance of training, further training and retraining; notes that successful diversification projects of the postal service in some Member States that have prevented massive job losses have included increasing financial services (e.g., postal savings banks), local government services, provision of digital and hybrid mail, and business to customer parcel delivery;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

Amendment 54 #

Patrick LE HYARIC, Rina Ronja KARI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Points out that jobs have not been created as a result of restructuring and the introduction of new activities in the postal services sector ~~and that, in keeping with these new circumstances, workers need to learn new skill~~, but that there has merely been an increase in the number of temporary jobs; draws attention to the importance of training, further training and retraining;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Points out that ~~jobs have been created~~, as a result of restructuring and the introduction of new activities in the postal services sector and ~~that,~~ in keeping with these new circumstances, workers need to learn new skills; draws attention to the importance of training, and further training ~~and retraining~~;

Amendment 56 #

Claude ROLIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Highlights the Erasmus+ Leonardo da Vinci vocational education and training programme as a valuable tool in support of the transformation of postal services; notes that older workers too need to receive retraining or further training and that this may also lead to stress;

Amendment 58 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Javi LÓPEZ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses that the key to a socially sustainable transformation and adaptation in the postal sector lies in employee training; regards it as the employer's task to acquaint employees properly with new technologies such as IT and tracking applications; stresses that in the case of temporary contracts, the agency supplying the staff must give them adequate preparation and training;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Highlights the opportunities to be found for consumers, SMEs and e- retailers as well as the postal sector itself in the growing parcel market, both within and across Member States´ borders; stresses, however, that in order to benefit from growth in this area, services such as cross-border parcel delivery must be affordable, accessible and available with price transparency and sufficient delivery features such as track and trace facilities and interoperability of delivery services;

Amendment 6 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI, Siôn SIMON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 60 #

Kosma ZŁOTOWSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses the particular importance of public postal operators providing a universal service for promoting high standards of working conditions in the postal services sector;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Points out that the rationalisation of services is becoming increasingly frequent, in particular as regards the gradual closure of numerous post offices, the reduction of opening hours with a consequent reduction in the number of jobs, the ongoing insecurity of employment contracts and the loss of quality in the service;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Welcomes the cooperation between the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) and the social partners in the postal sector on the ‘Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress’ campaign; stresses the importance of health and safety at work, particularly in the light of demographic changes and the high level of mobility of workers in the postal sector; stresses that all workers, irrespective of their type of undertaking and employment contract, must be guaranteed the same level of health and safety protection at work;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Notes that services are becoming increasingly internalised, resulting in a reduction in the number of delivery agencies and major job losses;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Recalls that Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 on tachographs in road transport does not apply to vehicles of less than 3.5 tonnes and that it is therefore possible for existing legislation to be evaded; calls therefore for checks on suppliers’ working and rest times to be stepped up;

Amendment 65 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Applauds the work of the Social Dialogue Committee for the Postal Sector; and highlights the project launched by the European social partners in this sector entitled ‘Managing demographic challenges and finding sustainable solutions by the social partners in the postal sector’;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Applauds the~~Welcomes the essential work of the Social Dialogue Committee for the Postal Sector;

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Applaud~~Notes the work and the engagement of the Social Dialogue Committee for the Postal Sector;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to compile more data on workforce size and working conditions ~~so that they can respond promptly to developments and potential problems~~; insists that, since the Commission failed to ensure no loss of conditions before the third directive was transposed as it was required to do, that the Commission and Member States must now act to prevent the further deterioration of working conditions for postal workers and to reverse the decline that has occurred since liberalisation was imposed;

Amendment 69 #

Georges BACH, Anne SANDER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to compile more data on workforce size and working conditions ~~so that they can~~in the postal service sector so that they can better assess the actual situation following the complete opening up of the markets and respond promptly to developments and potential problems;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Points out that it is essential to maintain the postal services in rural areas in order to promote social cohesion by making communication between people easier and to guarantee the provision of a number of indispensable services to the people living in those areas;

Amendment 70 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to compile more data on workforce size and working conditions so that they can respond promptly to developments and potential problems; calls on the Commission and Member States to closely monitor new means of automated postal deliveries, their impact on working conditions and employment and to assess the need for the modernisation of social and employment legislation to stay abreast of changes in the postal sector; encourages social partners to likewise update collective agreements where necessary so that high working and employment standards in the workplace can be ensured;

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to compile more data on workforce size and working conditions in the postal sector so that they can respond promptly to developments and potential problems and find sustainable solutions;

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to compile more data on workforce size ~~and~~, working conditions ~~so that they can respond promptly to developments and potential problem~~and the quality of the postal service in the Member States;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Welcomes the fact that some Member States apply Article 10(2), point 5, of Directive 2008/6/EC, and calls on all Member States to take working conditions into account as a criterion in licensing and approval procedures;

Amendment 74 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Expresses grave concern that the draft TTIP text, if adopted, will severely restrict the use of universal service obligations (USOs) which are crucial in the postal services sector in guaranteeing universal access to the service at an affordable cost, and reduce competition by public postal operators; notes that these policies have been campaigned for by the major postal and courier corporations such as FedEx; notes that all Member States in which governments retain shares in or subsidise the national postal service operator or enforce the provision of universal service obligations will be negatively impacted if TTIP is adopted;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Underlines the benefits of quality and sustainable jobs in postal and delivery services, including on providing high and consistent standards of service to consumers;

Amendment 76 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Rejects the Commission's stance in the TTIP negotiations on banning the reversal of privatisations through the 'standstill' clauses and the locking in of future deregulation under a proposed 'ratchet' provision in the context of the demonstrable negative impact of postal services liberalisation on workers and communities;

Amendment 77 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the fact that most of the universal service providers in the Member States have concluded collective agreements; takes the view that, in keeping with national practice, the social partners should negotiate collective wage agreements for ~~other~~all companies providing postal services, as they are an effective instrument in combating a race to the bottom in social and working standards;

Amendment 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the fact that most of the universal service providers in the Member States have concluded collective agreements; takes the view that, in keeping with national practice, the social partners should negotiate collective ~~wage~~ agreements for ~~other~~all companies providing postal services in accordance with the principle of equal pay for equal work at the same place as advocated by Commission President Juncker;

Amendment 79 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the fact that most of the universal service providers in the Member States have concluded collective agreements; ~~takes the view that~~encourages, in keeping with national practice, ~~the~~ social partners ~~should~~to negotiate collective wage agreements for other companies providing postal services to ensure decent remuneration for all workers and ensuring a fair competition between postal services providers;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that it is difficult to see a single demonstrable positive effect for services, communities or workers that has resulted from the imposition of liberalisation of the postal services through the EU directives; notes that the only beneficiaries from the transposition of the directives have been multinational corporations, in particular the 'Big Five' in the global mailing and logistics sector (DHL, UPS, TNT, FedEx and GeoPost/DPD);

Amendment 80 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. WRecalls the fundamental role of the universal service obligation and welcomes the fact that most of the universal service providers in the Member States have concluded collective agreements; takes the view that, in keeping with national practice, the social partners should negotiate collective wage agreements for other companies providing postal services;

Amendment 81 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the Member States to introduce and strengthen laws on joint and several liability, put limits to subcontracting and increase monitoring of parcel service operators and their subcontractors as regards employment and working conditions;

Amendment 82 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Recalls the importance of the regulators in each Member State to make sure that the service does not get eroded or worsen and not themselves encourage the worsening of the postal industry.

Amendment 83 #

Kosma ZŁOTOWSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States, when drawing up new regulations relating to the postal services market, and particularly in relation to the process of creating the Digital Single Market, to take into account the strategic importance of public postal operators providing a universal service and the need to ensure high standards of protection of workers' rights in the postal services sector;

Amendment 84 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ, Javi LÓPEZ, Flavio ZANONATO, Elena GENTILE, Richard HOWITT, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Brando BENIFEI, Georgi PIRINSKI, Siôn SIMON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Member States to guarantee all workers in the postal services sector ~~appropriate working conditions.~~decent working conditions regardless of the size of the company which employs them, the place of employment or the underlying contract; recalls that all workers in the postal sector must have the right to enjoy the highest possible level of protection as regards health and safety at work;

Amendment 85 #

Jana TOOM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. CStresses that lowering labour costs by reducing working conditions should not be considered as flexibility; calls on the Member States to guarantee all workers in the postal services sector appropriate working conditions.

Amendment 86 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Member States to guarantee all workers in the postal services sector ~~appropriat~~high-quality and secure working conditions.

Amendment 87 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Recalls the provision of postal services are essential to the social, economic and territorial cohesion of the EU and play a particularly important role in rural and remote areas, as outlined in Article 3(2) and Recitals 19, 20 ad 22 of the Postal Services Directive; Notes the important of rural broadband in this regard to ensure the continuation and future growth of services and the need for government commitment to ensure continued levels of service;

Amendment 88 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Supports the idea of one stop shops or multiservice centres for the continued provision of rural public services in which post offices can play a central role;

Amendment 9 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Hugues BAYET, Theresa GRIFFIN, Miltiadis KYRKOS, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recommends that operators and customers become computer literate, that digital services be fully operational where rationalisation plans exist for post offices, and that jobs be safeguarded, particularly existing jobs;

source: 582.258

2016/06/08 TRAN 235 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

– having regard to Article 9 TFEU on the promotion of a high level of employment and the guarantee of adequate social protection,

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas competition in mature letter markets is limited ~~and~~, owing to falling volumes and the process of electronic substitution, and whereas development has been slow in most Member States where ~~markets are~~this sector is still dominated by the universal service providers;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission to ~~work on a harmonised~~improve the present definition of universal service which stipulates a minimum level of service for consumers and takes into account market changes and fosters economic growth and social cohesion; calls on the Member States to further harmonise licensing procedures in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal market;

Amendment 101 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Hugues BAYET, Theresa GRIFFIN, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission to ~~work on a harmonised definition of univers~~ensure Member States the flexibility already provided in the Postal sService ~~which stipulates a minimum level of service for consumers~~s Directive to make the USO fit to evolving markets and changing users' needs in order to ensure its sustainability; calls on the Member States to further harmonise licensing procedures in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal market;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission to work on ~~a harmonised definition of universal service which stipulates a minimum level of service for consumer~~guidance that sets out minimum levels of service for consumers under the USO, whilst recognising variations in consumer requirements and the provision of the USO across Member States; calls on the Member States to ~~further harmonise~~review licensing procedures in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal market;

Amendment 103 #

Pavel TELIČKA, Jozo RADOŠ, Hannu TAKKULA, Matthijs van MILTENBURG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 104 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission ~~to work on a harmonised~~and Member States to respect the current definition of universal service, which stipulates a minimum level of service for consumers; calls on the Member States to ~~further harmonise~~implement licensing procedures according to the current Directive in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal market;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission to work on a harmonised definition of universal service which stipulates a minimum level of service for consumers; ~~calls on the Member States to further harmonise licensing procedures in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal market~~nevertheless requests the Commission to grant the Member States flexibility in the provision of services;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission to ~~work on a harmonised definition of univers~~ensure Member States the flexibility already provided in the Postal sService ~~which stipulates a minimum level of service for consumers; calls on the Member States to further harmonise licensing procedures in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal market~~s Directive to make the Universal Service Obligation fit to evolving markets and changing users' needs in order to ensure its sustainability; this flexibility should apply to licensing procedures as well;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission to work on a harmonised definition of universal service which stipulates a minimum level of service for consumers; calls on the Member States to further harmonise licensing procedures in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal marketensure Member States the flexibility already provided in the Postal Services Directive to make the USO fit to evolving markets and changing users' needs in order to ensure its sustainability; this flexibility should apply to licensing procedures as well;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas competition in letter markets is limited and development has been too slow in most Member States where markets are still dominated by the universal service providers;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission to ~~work on a harmonised~~take account of the fact that the current definition of universal service ~~which stipulate~~sets a minimum level of service for consumers; calls on the Member States to ~~further harmonise~~study licensing procedures ~~in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal market~~, paying attention to the conditions laid down in the Directive;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Emphasises that the introduction of conciliation procedures, that are easily accessible and affordable, bear an interesting potential to achieving an easy and short-term solution for both the operators and the consumers in cases of disputes; encourages the Commission to introduce legislation on postal consumer rights;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Calls on the Commission to take distinctive national features into account, given that if these were erased in the interests of interoperability, or in order to stamp out public subsidies and promote fair competition, all that would happen is that incumbent operators would give up their public service role;

Amendment 113 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Hugues BAYET, Theresa GRIFFIN, Inés AYALA SENDER, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Urges the Commission, in drafting legislative proposals, to take account of digitalisation and the opportunities it brings, the specific characteristics of the Member States and overall trends in the postal and parcel markets.

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that VAT exemption for postal services has to be applied in a way that minimises distortions of competition between former monopolies and market entrants so as to ensure that all operators enjoy the freedom to provide postal services across Europe; notes that the VAT exemption for the services other than universal service is a significant reduction in the development of competition in the market;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that VAT exemption for postal services has to be applied in a way that minimises distortions of competition between former monopolies and market entrants ~~so as to ensure~~, whilst guaranteeing the USO's long-term sustainability, so that all operators ~~enjoy the freedom~~can continue to provide postal services across Europe;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that VAT exemption for postal services has to be applied in a way that minimises distortions of competition between ~~former~~ monopolies and market entrants so as to ensure that all operators enjoy the ~~freedom~~possibility to provide postal services across Europe;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to review broadly defined concepts of items of services of general economic interests and if public service compensation and USOs are supported in a sustainable manner; asks to further define the scope of the tasks of the public services;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Calls on the Commission to ensure a common level playing field among providers both for traditional mail and the fast-expanding field of parcel delivery and between postal incumbents and new entrants; suggests, that the Commission shall be entitled to assess whether tender procedures pose an unfair burden;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the postal market, despite falling letter volumes, is still an area of the economy with strong prospects for growth and increasing competition;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)

9c. Calls on the Member States to consider that former incumbents shall neither be advantaged by state support nor disadvantaged by their public service obligation or legacy costs vis-à-vis new entrants;

Amendment 121 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Asks the Commission to lay down minimum standards for value-added services such as track-and-trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ability to choose a delivery time, and suitable return procedures; This paragraph is not related to the universal service obligations. Over-regulation should bedeleted Or. en Justification: avoided.

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Asks the Commission to l~~ay down minimum standards~~ook into whether or not new standards that go beyond the requirements set out in the Directive are needed in a competitive environment for value-added services such as track-and-trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ability to choose a delivery time, and suitable return procedures, given the work already undertaken and the investments already made by designated postal operators in this area and the need to ensure mid-to-long-term sustainability of these services in a changing environment;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Asks the Commission to lay dow~~Believes that the changes in the field of postal services should reflect the need to create a European msin~~imum standards for~~gle market, but welcomes competition and the market as indicators in the innovation and development of value-added services ~~such as~~and also of track-and-trace services, pick- up/drop-off locations, ~~the a~~and the possibility tof choos~~e a~~ing a convenient delivery time, and ~~suitable~~ return procedures;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. AConsiders competition and the market to be the best drivers for innovation and the development and asks the Commission to ~~lay dow~~support innovation min~~imum standards for~~ the sector in order to promote value-added services such as track-and-trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ability to choose a delivery time, and suitable return procedures;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Asks the Commission to lay down minimum standards for~~Considers competition and the market to be the best drivers for innovation and the development of value- added services such as track-and-trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ability to choose a delivery time, and suitable return procedures;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Asks the Commission to lay down, by taking into account the principle of proportionality and economic justification, minimum standards for value-added services such as track-and- trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ability to choose a delivery time, and suitable return procedures;

Amendment 129 #

Elżbieta Katarzyna ŁUKACIJEWSKA, Wim van de CAMP

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Asks the Commission to lay down minimum standards for value-added services such as track-and-trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ~~ability to choose a delivery time~~obligation of the service provider to deliver the order at the most convenient time for the consumer, and suitable return procedures;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas implementation of the Postal Services Directive helped in opening domestic markets for competition but did not lead to the accomplishment of internal market for postal services;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Asks the Commission to lay down minimum standards for value-added services such as track-and-trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ability to choose a delivery time, and suitable return procedur~~Considers competition and the market to be the best drivers for innovation and the development of value- added services;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Asks the Commission to ~~lay dow~~support innovation min~~imum standards for~~ the sector in order to promote value-added services such as track-and-trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ability to choose a delivery time, and suitable return procedures;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Asks the Commission to lay down minimum standards for~~Considers competition and innovation as the best drivers for development of value-added services such as track-and-trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ability to choose a delivery time, and suitable return procedures;

Amendment 135 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Theresa GRIFFIN, Hugues BAYET, Inés AYALA SENDER, Isabella DE MONTE, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Asks the ~~Commission~~Member States to lay down minimum standards for value-added services such as track-and-trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ability to choose a delivery time, and suitable return procedures;

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Asks the Commission to ~~lay down~~consider minimum standards for value-added services such as track-and-trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ability to choose a delivery time, and suitable return procedures;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Calls on the Commission to monitor closely Member States support of USO's and other legacy costs of postal services providers according to the main set of rules for state aid control of the SGEI (2012- Framework on Services of General Economic Interest);

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

~~11. Considers that service quality should be assessed on the basis of minimum Europe-wide standards with a view to creating a fully integrated European postal sector;~~deleted

Amendment 139 #

Pavel TELIČKA, Gesine MEISSNER, Jozo RADOŠ, Matthijs van MILTENBURG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

~~11. Considers that service quality should be assessed on the basis of minimum Europe-wide standards with a view to creating a fully integrated European postal sector;~~deleted

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the use of ICT has been continuously boosting the postal services sector by providing opportunities for innovation and allowing the market to expand;

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

~~11. Considers that service quality should be assessed on the basis of minimum Europe-wide standards with a view to creating a fully integrated European postal sector;~~deleted

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

~~11. Considers that service quality should be assessed on the basis of minimum Europe-wide standards with a view to creating a fully integrated European postal sector;~~deleted

Amendment 142 #

Inés AYALA SENDER, Lucy ANDERSON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

~~11. Considers that service quality should be assessed on the basis of minimum Europe-wide standards with a view to creating a fully integrated European postal sector;~~deleted

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Considers that service quality should be ~~assess~~judged oin the ~~basis of minimum Europe-wide standards with a view to c~~light of the standards set out in the Direacti~~ng a fully integrated European postal sector;~~ve and the efforts and investment made by the European postal sector in order to increase interoperability and improve service quality.

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Considers that service quality should be assessed ~~on the basis of minimum Europe-wide standards~~by consumers through the procedure of a Europe-wide service evaluation network with a view to creating a fully integrated and operational European postal sector;

Amendment 145 #

Fernando RUAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Considers that service quality should be assessed on the basis of minimum Europe-wide standards with a view to creating a fully integrated European postal sector on the benefit of European citizens;

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Considers that service quality should be assessed on the basis of minimum Europe-wide standards ~~with a view to creating a fully integrated European postal sector~~;

Amendment 147 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Considers that service quality should be assessed on the basis of minimum Europe-wide standards ~~with a view to creating a fully integrated European postal sector~~;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Considers that service quality should be assessed on the basis of ~~minimum Europe-wide standard~~the Postal Services Directive requirements with a view to creating a fully inte~~gra~~rconnected European postal sector;

Amendment 149 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Reiterates its support for the Postal Users Forum, which was established in 2011 by the Commission and aims to facilitate discussion between users, operators, trade unions and other stakeholders on issues including end-user satisfaction, business-user requirements and how to improve e-commerce delivery; is of the opinion that the Forum is very useful and should meet regularly in order to identify potential solutions to improve postal and parcel delivery services;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas new competitors have mainly focused on large business customers and highly populated areas;

Amendment 150 #

Isabella DE MONTE, David Maria SASSOLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Recognizes the investments made by the European Postal operators to upgrade the interconnectivity of their networks in order to offer new and easy- to-use services to consumers buying online as well as SME e-retailers selling cross border; considers that these investments should be protected with fair access conditions;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Invites the Commission, in cooperation with the postal sector, to consider introducing a step-wise and interoperable approach to facilitate the use of stamps that have been purchased in one member state that can be used in other member state; in a further step, the Commission should assess the possibility of introducing stamps that can be used Europe-wide;

Amendment 152 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Recognises the investments made by the European postal operators to upgrade the interconnectivity of their networks in order to offer new and easy- to-use services to consumers buying online as well as SME e-retailers selling cross-border; considers that these investments should be protected with fair access conditions;

Amendment 153 #

Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Recalls that the universal service shall evolve in response to the technical economic and social environment and to the needs of users, and that the Postal Services Directive provides Member States with the flexibility necessary to address local specificities and to ensure universal services' long-term sustainability;

Amendment 154 #

Miltiadis KYRKOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Recognises the investments made by the European postal operators to upgrade the interconnectivity of their networks in order to offer new and easy- to-use services to consumers buying online as well as SME e-retailers selling cross border; considers that these investments should be protected with fair access conditions;

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Recognises the investments made by the European universal postal service operators to upgrade the interconnectivity of their networks in order to offer wide and easy-to-use cross-borders services; considers that these investments should be protected with fair access conditions;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Recognises the investments made by the European postal sector to upgrade the interconnectivity of their networks in order to offer new and easy-to-use services to SME e-retailers selling cross border; considers that these investments should be protected with fair access conditions.

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Recognises the investments made by European postal operators to upgrade the interconnectivity of their networks in order to provide new and user-friendly services to their customers who make on-line purchases and to cross-border e-tailers (SMEs);

Amendment 158 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Notes that operators are endeavouring to improve their network interconnections and in that way boost online trade on a Europe-wide scale;

Amendment 159 #

Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Recognises the investments made by the European postal operators to upgrade the interconnectivity of their networks in order to offer new and easy- to-use services to consumers buying online as well as SME e-retailers selling cross border; considers that these investments should be protected with fair access conditions;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the parcel delivery market is a highly competitive~~, innovative~~ and fast-growing sector wh~~ich attained growth of 33 % between 2008 and 2011 in terms of volume, and whereas e-commerce is a driving factor~~ere e-commerce is a driving factor; whereas statistics show that the express mail and parcels services international market is currently dominated by few global players;

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Asks the Member States to ensure the interoperability of ~~regional~~ postal networks and, where several universal service providers exist, to prevent impediments to the transport of postal items and to allow small and medium-sized enterprises access to the financially attractive services in cross- border deliveries by increasing the transparency of the tariffs applied by the postal operators;

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Asks the Member States to ensure the interoperability and upgrading of regional postal networks and, where several universal service providers exist, to prevent impediments to the transport of postal items;

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Considers that parcel delivery is a highly competitive, innovative and fast- growing sector, and that any new regulation in the parcel delivery market must therefore be proportionate and supported by sound economic evidence, in this respect we should consider using all advantages offered by remotely piloted aircraft systems (drones), the development and use of which could ease the delivery of postal services especially in low population density, isolated and distant areas while also taking into account safety and environmental aspects;

Amendment 163 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Theresa GRIFFIN, Hugues BAYET, Inés AYALA SENDER, Miltiadis KYRKOS, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Considers that parcel delivery is a highly competitive, innovative and fast- growing sector~~, and~~; notes that opening this sector up to competition has thus boosted the development of value-added services such as track-and-trace, pick-up/drop-off locations, the possibility of choosing a delivery time, and suitable return procedures; consequently believes that any new regulation in the parcel delivery market must therefore be proportionate and supported by sound economic evidence;

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Considers that parcel delivery is a highly competitive, innovative and fast- growing sector~~, and~~; notes the importance of affordable and reliable parcel delivery services in realising the full potential of the Digital Single Market; believes that any new regulation in the parcel delivery market must ~~therefore~~ be proportionate ~~and supported by sou~~whilst effectively addressing the problems faced by retailers and econ~~omic evidence~~sumers, protecting employment rights, tackling social exclusion and encouraging environmental sustainability;

Amendment 165 #

Olga SEHNALOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 166 #

Jutta STEINRUCK, Lucy ANDERSON, Ismail ERTUG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 167 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Considers that the dynamics of the highly competitive, innovative and fast- growing parcel market should not be hampered by unjustified regulation and unnecessary bureaucracy;

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the parcel delivery market is a highly competitive, innovative and fast-growing sector which attained growth of 33 % between 2008 and 2011 in terms of volume, and whereas e-commerce is a driving factor for the market growth;

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. ~~Encourages~~Calls on the Commission to strengthen market oversight of parcel delivery, specifically by improving national regulators’ capacity to assess competition and identify anti-competitive ~~practic~~and monopolistic practices without undermining the competence of the national competition authorities; encourages to increase the transparency of the tariffs and services availability, in particular for the retail customers and small and medium-sized enterprises;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Encourages the Commission to strengthen market oversight of parcel delivery, specifically by improving national regulators’ capacity to assess competition and identify anti-competitive practices; has doubts about the integrated delivery policies of large e-retailers’ websites, not least as regards the cost of delivery, the way in which this is factored into the sale price, and the possibility that some of the practices involved might be tantamount to dumping;

Amendment 172 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Encourages the Commission to strengthen market oversight of parcel delivery, specifically by improving national regulators’ capacity to assess competition, affordability of cross-border tariffs and identify anti-competitive practices;

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Encourages the Commission to ~~strengthen~~develop market oversight of parcel delivery~~, specifically by~~ in a risk- and performance-based direction, and to improv~~ing~~e national regulators' capacity to assess competition and identify anti-competitive practices;

Amendment 174 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Hugues BAYET, Theresa GRIFFIN, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. ~~Encourages the Commission to strengthen market oversight of parcel delivery, specifically by improving~~Recommends that the Commission, always working in perfect cooperation with the national regulator~~s’ capacity to~~y authorities, assess competition and identify anti- competitive practices;

Amendment 175 #

Fernando RUAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. EStrongly encourages the Commission to strengthen market oversight of parcel delivery, specifically by improving national regulators’ capacity to assess competition and identify anti- competitive practices;

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Encourages the Commission to strengthen market oversight of parcel delivery where necessary, specifically by improving national regulators’ capacity to ~~assess competition and~~ identify unfair anti-competitive practices;

Amendment 177 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Welcomes the Commission's proposal on transparent and non- discriminatory cross-border access to all network elements, associated facilities, relevant services and information systems of postal networks for third parties; believes that efficient use of infrastructure could bring economic gains for Universal Service Providers and increase competition in the cross-border delivery;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to collect more data on the parcel delivery market in order to better assess the development of this economic sector and its structural development;

Amendment 179 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Stresses the importance of improving consumer confidence and trust in cross-border delivery; considers that greater transparency as regards delivery options, modalities and quality/performance (speed, geographical coverage, delays and the handling of damaged or lost items), as well as trust labels, and ensuring better protection of consumers' rights when various disruptions occur, could address the lack of confidence;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas, according to European Commission estimations, the overall EU postal sector has experienced a net loss of jobs during the last 10 years, while low- quality and atypical forms of employment have substantially increased;

Amendment 180 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Olga SEHNALOVÁ, Hugues BAYET, Theresa GRIFFIN, Inés AYALA SENDER, Miltiadis KYRKOS, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Stresses the importance of improving ~~consumer confidence and trust in cross-border delivery~~the quality and efficiency of the service in order to restore an adequate level of consumer confidence; considers that greater transparency as regards delivery options, modalities and quality/performance (speed, geographical coverage, delays and the handling of damaged or lost items), as well as trust labels, could address the lack of confidence;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Stresses the importance of improving consumer confidence and trust in cross-border delivery; considers that greater transparency as regards prices, delivery options, modalities and quality/performance (speed, geographical coverage, delays and the handling of damaged or lost items), as well as trust labels, could address the lack of confidence;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States and the Commission to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially when it comes to e-commerce; stresses the importance of affordable cross-border delivery prices ~~in closing the~~, particularly for SMEs and consumers and recognises the perfectly logical gap between domestic and cross- border prices; cCalls on the ~~Commission to explore why~~national regulatory authorities to analyse the affordability of prices oin ~~some cross-border routes are higher in one direction than the other~~universal service products which display and unwarranted gap between domestic and cross-border prices;

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States and the Commission to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially when it comes to e-commerce; stresses the importance of ~~affordable cross-border delivery prices in clos~~reducing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices~~; calls on the Commission to explore why prices on some cross-border routes are higher in one direction than the other~~ and of watching out for inordinate disparities;

Amendment 184 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States ~~and the Commission~~ to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially when it comes to e-commerce; stresses the importance of affordable cross-border delivery prices ~~in closing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices; calls on the Commission to explore why~~, especially for consumers and SMEs where necessary; calls on the National Regulatory Authorities to access the affordability of prices oin some cross- border routes ~~are higher in one directi~~in case of apparent and unreasonable anomalies on than ~~the other;~~ad-hoc basis.

Amendment 185 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Theresa GRIFFIN, Hugues BAYET, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States and the Commission to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially when it comes to e-commerce; stresses the importance of ensuring affordable cross- border delivery prices inand closing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices, particularly for consumers and SMEs; calls on the Commission to work with NRAs to explore why prices on some cross-border routes are ~~higher in one direction than the other~~considerably higher than the EU average;

Amendment 187 #

Pavel TELIČKA, Jozo RADOŠ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States and the Commission to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially when it comes to e-commerce; stresses the importance of affordable cross-border delivery prices ~~in closing the gap between~~and supports measures that increase consumer awareness and capacity to compare domestic and cross- border prices structure; calls on the Commission to explore why prices on some cross-border routes are higher in one direction than the other;

Amendment 188 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States and the Commission to improve affordability, barrier-free accessibility and in particular transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially when it comes to e-commerce; stresses the importance of affordable cross-border delivery prices in closing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices; calls on the Commission to explore why prices on some cross-border routes are higher in one direction than the other;

Amendment 189 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States and the Commission to improve transparency as regards p~~ricing conditions~~ublic pricing and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially when it comes to e-commerce; stresses the importance of affordable cross-border delivery prices ~~in closing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices; calls on the Commission to explore why prices on some cross-border routes are higher in one direction than the other~~, calls on the NRAs to explore why the multiples between domestic and cross-border public prices on some cross-border routes are considerably higher than the EU average; this should be done in accordance with the principle of proportionality;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the widespread use of remotely piloted aircraft systems (drones) foresees new, quick, environment-friendly and efficient modes of parcel delivery, especially in low population density, isolated and distant areas;

Amendment 190 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States and the Commission to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially when it comes to e-commerce; stresses the importance of affordable cross-border delivery prices in closing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices; calls on the Commission to explore why prices on some cross-border routes are higher in one direction than the other and to come up with measures to eliminate such differences;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States and the Commission to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), through the evaluation thereof chiefly by consumers, especially when it comes to e-commerce; stresses the importance of affordable cross- border delivery prices in closing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices; calls on the Commission to explore why prices on some cross-border routes are higher in one direction than the other;

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States and the Commission to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially when it comes to e-commerce where necessary; stresses the importance of affordable cross- border delivery prices ~~in closing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices; calls on the Commission to explore why~~, especially for consumers and SMEs; calls on the National Regulatory Authorities to assess the affordability of prices oin some cross- border routes ~~are higher in one directi~~in cases of apparent and unreasonable anomalies on than ~~the other;~~ad-hoc basis

Amendment 193 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States ~~and the Commission~~ to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially when it comes to e-commerce where necessary; stresses the importance of affordable cross- border delivery prices ~~in closing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices; calls on the Commission to explore why~~, especially for consumers and SMEs; calls on the National Regulatory Authorities to asses why the multiples between domestic and cross-border public prices on some cross- border ~~routes are higher in one direction than the ot~~are considerably higher;

Amendment 194 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States and the Commission to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability)~~, especially when it comes to e-commerce~~; stresses the importance of setting affordable cross- border delivery prices ~~in closing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices; calls on the Commission to explore why~~while internalizing economic and environmental costs; calls on the National Regulatory Authorities to assess affordability of prices oin ~~some~~ cross- border routes ~~are higher in one directi~~in cases of apparent unreasonable anomalies on than ~~the other~~ad-hoc basis;

Amendment 195 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Asks the Member States ~~and the Commission~~ to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially ~~when it comes to~~in the case of e-commerce; stresses the importance of affordable cross-border delivery prices ~~in closing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices; calls on the Commission to explore why prices on some~~, especially for consumers and SMEs; calls on the national authorities to regulate and evaluate the affordability of prices for certain cross- border routes ~~are higher in one direction than the othe~~in cases where manifest and unreasonable price anomalies appear;

Amendment 196 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to identify best practice for the traceability of deliveries, whilst ensuring there is an option for delivery status information to be provided in real time, through digital systems, and providing contact information for the operators responsible;

Amendment 197 #

Gesine MEISSNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Notes the diversity of the European parcel markets with respect to competition, services and prices for cross- border delivery services; asks for transparency checks only where prices are not controlled by competition or unreasonably high, in order to avoid adding costs and red tape;

Amendment 198 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission to promote the strategy on e-commerce and cross-border parcel delivery and to establish joint delivery service quality indicators so that consumers can compare offers from different service providers; suggests improving interoperability along the delivery chain and developing best practices for e-retailers;deleted

Amendment 199 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission to promote the strategy on e-commerce and cross-border parcel delivery and to establish joint delivery service quality indicators so that consumers can compare offers easily from different service providers on the basis of price, service options, punctuality etc.; suggests improving interoperability along the delivery chain and developing best practices for e-retailers; discourages pre- selection of delivery options by retailers and encourages free choice by customers;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2

-having regard to Articles 101, 102 and 1026 TFEU on the competition rules applicable to undertakings,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the lack of restrictions on access to the market for postal services has increased competition between operators, thereby fostering the development of individual sectors of the market;

Amendment 200 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission to promote the strategy on e-commerce and cross-border parcel delivery ~~and to establish joint delivery service quality indicators so that consumers can compare offers from different service providers~~; suggests improving interoperability along the delivery chain and developing best practices for e-retailers;

Amendment 201 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission to promote the strategy on e-commerce and cross-border parcel delivery and to establish joint monitored and publicly available delivery service quality indicators so that consumers can compare offers from different service providers; suggests improving interoperability along the delivery chain and developing best practices for e-retailers;

Amendment 202 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission to promote the strategy on e-commerce and cross-border parcel delivery and to establish joint delivery service quality indicators so that consumers can without hindrance and at any moment compare offers from different service providers; suggests improving interoperability along the delivery chain and developing best practices for e-retailers;

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission to promote the strategy on e-commerce and cross-border parcel delivery and ~~to establish joint delivery service quality indicator~~promote the use of open tools so that consumers can compare offers from different service providers; suggests ~~improv~~facilitating interoperability along the delivery chain and developing best practices for e- retailers;

Amendment 204 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Hugues BAYET, Theresa GRIFFIN, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Highlights that the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Directive and the online platform established by Regulation (EU) No 524/2013 on online dispute resolution for consumer disputes may benefit consumers and businesses in cross-border transactions; is concerned that, despite the July 2015 transposition deadline, only 24 Member States have so far transposed the ADR Directive and consequently millions of European citizens are being deprived of this important redress mechanism;

Amendment 205 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Underlines the potential role of EU funding mechanisms such as Horizon 2020 , CEF and the European Structural and Investment Fund in facilitating innovation in postal and delivery services including e-commerce options of benefit for consumers, the environment and SMEs and solutions with social inclusion and accessibility objectives;

Amendment 206 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Maintains that complaint procedures and dispute settlement arrangements need to be simple and effective and apply on a cross-border basis;

Amendment 207 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 208 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Encourages the Member States to support cost reductions by improving the interoperability of parcel dispatch and collection processes, and to develop European standards for integrated tracking systems; recalls the need to promote the quality, reliability and sustainability of integrated logistics services; encourages the creation of platforms for cooperation and information exchange between delivery operatorsAppreciates the progress made by the industry in serving consumers and SMEs across the borders by enhancing interoperability, track and trace, more choices of delivery options and return solutions; evaluate the progress as confirming the market approach supported and requested by the European Parliament;

Amendment 209 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the Special Eurobarometer 398 of October 2013 concluded that nearly 40% of consumers indicated that problems with delivery prevented them from shopping online;

Amendment 210 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 211 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to investigate the functioning of cross-border parcel delivery in accordance with the various rules resulting from either international ~~trade~~ agreements (e.g. the rules of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Labour Organisation (ILO)) or EU law (e.g. the Union Customs Code), especially the universal service obligation, which can be misused and create ~~market distortion~~unfair competition to the disadvantage of more sustainable providers;

Amendment 212 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Theresa GRIFFIN, Hugues BAYET, Inés AYALA SENDER, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to investigate the functioning of cross-border parcel delivery in accordance with the various rules resulting from either international trade agreements (e.g. the rules of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or EU law (e.g. the Union Customs Code), especially the universal service obligation, which can be misused and create market distortion; encourages the European Union to apply for membership at the Universal Postal Union in order to achieve a fully integrated European postal sector;

Amendment 213 #

Ivan JAKOVČIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to investigate the functioning of cross-border parcel delivery in accordance with the various rules resulting from either international trade agreements (e.g. the rules of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or EU law (e.g. the Union Customs Code), especially the universal service obligation, which can be misused and create market distortion; calls on the Commission and the Member States to study and adopt best practice for cross-border delivery and e- commerce;

Amendment 214 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to investigate the functioning of cross-border parcel delivery in accordance with the various rules resulting from either international trade agreements (e.g. the rules of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or EU law (e.g. the Union Customs Code)~~, especially the universal service obligation, which can be misused and create market distortion~~;

Amendment 215 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to investigate the functioning of cross-border parcel delivery in accordance with the various rules resulting from either international trade agreements (e.g. the rules of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or EU law (e.g. the Union Customs Code), especially the universal service obligation~~, which can be misused and create market distortion~~;

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ~~investigate~~look into the functioning of cross-border parcel delivery in accordance with the various rules resulting from either international and intergovernmental trade agreements (e.g. the rules of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or EU law (e.g. the Union Customs Code), ~~especially the universal service obligation, which can be misused and create market distor~~taking particular account of the requirements of third countries regarding the universal service obligation;

Amendment 217 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the ~~Commission and the~~ Member States to investigate the functioning of cross-border parcel delivery in accordance with the various rules resulting from either international trade agreements (e.g. the rules of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or EU law (e.g. the Union Customs Code), especially the universal service obligation, which can be misused and create market distortion;

Amendment 218 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Supports the principle of compiling statistics on the parcel delivery market in order to gain a clearer picture of the leading market players, the competition pattern, and market trends;

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to ensure decent working conditions for all employees in the postal services sector~~; recommends close monitoring of whether labour-market-related developments in the postal services sector comply with national law~~ irrespective of whether their employment status is self-employed, subcontractor, temporary staff member or contract worker; calls on the Commission and Member States to closely monitor whether labour-market-related developments in the postal services sector comply with national law as well as to elaborate new means of automated postal deliveries, their impact on working conditions and employment and to assess the need for the modernisation of social and employment legislation to stay abreast of changes in the postal sector; encourages social partners to likewise update collective agreements where necessary so that high working and employment standards in the workplace can be ensured; highlights in this regard the importance of strong and independent social partners in the postal sector, an institutionalized social dialogue and the participation of employees in company matters;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas in the coming years the position of postal market operators will be determined by their technical and organisational potential to provide a comprehensive service, as well as their ability to adapt to the challenges posed by digital communication and e-commerce, as well as by growing customer expectations;

Amendment 220 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to ensure decent working conditions for all employees in the postal services sector; ~~recommends close monitoring of whether labour-market-related developments in the postal services sector comply with national law;~~

Amendment 221 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to ensure decent working conditions for all employees in the postal services sector; recommends close monitoring of whether labour-market-related developments in the postal services sector comply with Union and national law, administrative provisions and collective agreements negotiated by social partners;

Amendment 222 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to ensure decent working conditions for all employees in the postal services sector, ensuring equal access and treatment for men and women; recommends close monitoring of whether labour-market- related developments in the postal services sector comply with national law;

Amendment 223 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to ensure decent working conditions for all employees in the postal services sector, with full respect for labour and social rights; recommends close monitoring of whether labour-market-related developments in the postal services sector comply with national law;

Amendment 224 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Stresses the importance of monitoring compliance with mandatory driving and resting times as well as working hours in the postal sector; recalls that all tasks in relation to the activity of an employee are to be considered working time; stresses likewise the importance of monitoring compliance with European standards regarding the protection of health and safety at work, including conditions in vehicles, for all people involved in postal deliveries irrespective of whether their employment status is self- employed, subcontractor, temporary staff member or contract worker; believes that monitoring should take place by means of digital monitoring devices installed in the vehicle;

Amendment 225 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Points out that in the postal services sector there are often cases of social dumping and calls on the Commission and the Member States to adopt suitable measures to prevent such unfair practices which distort competition and harm small and medium-sized enterprises in particular;

Amendment 226 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Takes note that the liberalization of the postal sector has in some Member States led to substantial differences in working conditions and wages between universal service providers and competing companies providing specific postal services;

Amendment 227 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Calls on the Commission to put an end to the posted worker system, which is exacerbating unemployment among local wage-earners and making posted workers vulnerable to exploitation;

Amendment 228 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Stresses that the key to a socially sustainable transformation and adaptation in the postal sector lies in employee training; regards it as the employer's task to acquaint employees properly with new technologies such as IT and tracking applications; stresses that in the case of temporary contracts, the agency supplying the staff must give them adequate preparation and training;

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Notes that in recent years technological advances and digitalisation have transformed the postal services sector and that the modernisation and diversification of postal services has had a major impact on working conditions and employment in the sector;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas consumers and small businesses report that problems with parcel delivery, in particular high prices, prevent them from selling more to or buying more from other Member States;

Amendment 230 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to compile more data on workforce size and working conditions in the postal service sector to better assess the actual situation following the complete opening up of the markets and respond promptly to developments and to tackle potential problems;

Amendment 231 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take stronger measures to combat undeclared work and the exploitation of posted workers;

Amendment 232 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Considers that increased competition should not generate illegal social practices or lead to the degradation of working conditions; calls on the Commission to closely monitor market developments, in particular new business models that downgrade job quality and security and to prevent the potential for social dumping, deterioration of social standards; calls on the Commission and Member States to guarantee coherent enforcement of all legal provisions by all operators;

Amendment 233 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Considers that increased competition should not generate illegal social practices or lead to the degradation of working conditions; is concerned about the already extremely high amount of outsourcing in the postal sector and the frequently accompanying evasion of working and employment standards; highlights in this context the long-term social and financial implications of precarious employment for individuals as well as social security systems;

Amendment 234 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. ~~Considers that increased competition should not generate illegal social practices or lead to the degradation of working conditions;~~Acknowledges the current trends showing a significant increase of low- quality and atypical forms of employment; considers that addressing these unfair competition practices in the EU postal sector shall be a major priority for the Commission and the Member States; calls on the Member States to introduce appropriate control devices and ensure effective implementation of EU and national existing social requirements.

Amendment 235 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Notes that, if postal undertakings have the opportunity to develop and expand their production innovatively, particularly in peripheral areas, this should also have the effect of promoting employment.

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that while the minimum standards associated with the universal service obligation (postal items up to 2 kg, postal packages up to 10-20 kg, registered and insured items, and other services of general economic interest such as newspapers and periodicals) meet customers’ demands, the requirements are set by the national regulatory authorities (NRAs) entrusted with this task; minimum standards must be regulated at the EU level, without hindering member states to apply higher standards;

Amendment 25 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Theresa GRIFFIN, Hugues BAYET, Miltiadis KYRKOS, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that while the minimum standards associated with the universal service obligation (postal items up to 2 kg, postal packages up to 10-20 kg, registered and insured items, and other services of general economic interest such as newspapers and periodicals) generally meet customers’ demands, ~~the~~some detailed requirements are set by the national regulatory authorities (NRAs) entrusted with this task;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that while the minimum standards associated with the universal service obligation (postal items up to 2 kg, postal packages up to 10-20 kg, registered and insured items, and other services of general economic interest such as newspapers and periodicals) meet customers’ demands, the requirements are rightly set by the national regulatory authorities (NRAs) entrusted with this task;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses how necessary and important it is to provide universal services to the entire population, in particular by guaranteeing an essential minimum range of services in every part of the EU;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Member States to extend the role and independence of NRAs through high professional qualification criteria, fixed terms of office and legal protection against dismissal without cause, so that they can fulfil their obligations arising from the Postal Services Directive;deleted

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

- having regard to Article 14 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Member States to extend the role and independence of NRAs through high professional qualification criteria, guaranteed fixed terms of office and legal protection against dismissal without cause with the exhaustive list of reasons justifying such dismissal (e.g. a serious violation of the law), so that they can fulfil their obligations arising from the Postal Services Directive in neutral, transparent and timely manner;

Amendment 31 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Theresa GRIFFIN, Hugues BAYET, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Calls on the Member States to extend the role and independence of NRAs through high professional qualification criteria, fixed terms of office and legal protection against dismissal without cause~~Notes the primary task of NRAs is to meet the overall objective of the Postal Services Directive to ensure the provision of the universal service; calls on the Member States to support the role of NRAs, so that they can fulfil their obligations arising from the Postal Services Directive, without exceeding them;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Member States to extend the role and independence of NRAs both through high professional qualification criteria, and fixed terms of office and through legal protection against dismissal without cause, so that they can fulfil their obligations arising from the Postal Services Directive;

Amendment 34 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Hugues BAYET, Theresa GRIFFIN, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Considers that the level of transposition of the Directive is unsatisfactory, including with regard to issues such as structural separation, access to networks and authorisation requirements; Considers that in some Member States several issues, such as effective structural separation of the regulatory functions from activities associated with ownership and control, conditions governing access to networks and authorisation requirements might not be transposed properly;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Considers that any expansion of the role of NRAs under new regulation in the parcels market should tackle 'cherry picking' in the deliveries sector and establish minimum standards for all operators to ensure fair and equal competition;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that obligations of independence can only be fulfilled if NRAs’ regulatory functions are separated from activities associated with ownership or control of a postal operator; considers that senior NRA officials should not be permitted to work for the public postal operator or other interested parties immediately after leaving the NRA, with a view to preventing conflicts of interest;deleted

Amendment 37 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)

- having regard to the Protocol (No.26) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on services of general interest,

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that obligations of independence can only be fulfilled if NRAs’ regulatory functions are structurally and functionally separated from activities associated with ownership or control of a postal operator; considers that senior NRA officials should not be permitted to work for the public postal operator or other interested parties immediately after leaving the NRA, with a view to preventing conflicts of interest; For this purpose Member States should introduce the law provisions allowing the imposition of sanctions on the entities violating the mentioned obligation;

Amendment 41 #

Pavel TELIČKA, Jozo RADOŠ, Matthijs van MILTENBURG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Believes that obligations of independence can only be fulfilled if NRAs’ regulatory functions are separated from activities associated with ownership or control of a postal operator; c~~Considers that senior NRA officials should not be permitted to work for the public postal operator or other interested parties immediately after leaving the NRA, with a view to preventing conflicts of interest;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that obligations of independence can only be fulfilled if NRAs’ regulatory functions are separated from activities associated with ownership or control of a postal operator; considers that senior NRA officials should not be permitted to work for the public postal operator or other interested parties ~~immediately~~within at least six months after leaving the NRA, with a view to preventing conflicts of interest;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that obligations of independence can only be fulfilled if NRAs’ regulatory functions are separated from activities associated with ownership or control of a postal operator; considers that senior NRA officials should ~~not be permitted~~be able to work for the public postal operator or other interested parties immediately after leaving the NRA, with a view to pr~~eventing conflicts of interest~~oviding expertise and specialist skills;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

~~4. Asks the Commission to facilitate and reinforce cooperation between NRAs with a view to greater efficiency and interoperability in cross-border delivery;~~deleted

Amendment 45 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Theresa GRIFFIN, Hugues BAYET, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Asks the Commission to facilitate and reinforce cooperation between NRAs with a view to greater efficiency and interoperability in cross-border delivery and to supervise the regulatory activities of NRA in order to ensure the uniform approach within the application of the European law and the harmonization of the postal market within EU;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Asks the Commission to facilitate and reinforce cooperation and coordination between NRAs with a view to ~~greater~~fulfilling their primary task ensuring provision of the universal service, and improving efficiency and interoperability in ~~cross-border delivery~~delivery services;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Asks the Commission to facilitate and reinforce cooperation between NRAs with a view to greater efficiency and interoperability in cross-border delivery, based on knowledge learned from best and worst practice;

Amendment 48 #

Fernando RUAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Asks~~Calls on the Commission to ~~facilita~~promote and reinforce cooperation between NRAs with a view to greater efficiency and interoperability in cross- border delivery;

Amendment 49 #

Elżbieta Katarzyna ŁUKACIJEWSKA, Wim van de CAMP

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Takes the view that, for the purposes of improving statistics, NRAs need to be more knowledgeable and better informed on service providers in the parcel delivery market;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)

– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 524/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on online dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC,

Amendment 50 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that that the Postal Services Directive provides Member States with the flexibility necessary to address local specificities and to ensure universal service provision long-term sustainability while meeting the needs of users and adapting to the changes in the technical, economic and social environment;

Amendment 51 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Theresa GRIFFIN, Hugues BAYET, Isabella DE MONTE, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Notes the Commission's confirmation that the Postal Services Directive does not require any particular ownership structure for universal service providers (USPs); believes that USPs should not be prevented from investing and innovating in the provision of efficient and quality postal services;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Stresses~~Considers, that the trend moves towards a narrower scope for the USO; encourages to promote consumer choice in order to define the delivery of letters within the range of USO; stresses therefore the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that in some Member States national regulation exceeds the given flexibility provided ~~for in~~by the Postal Services Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density does not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligation;

Amendment 53 #

Isabella DE MONTE, David Maria SASSOLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; ~~notes that in some Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for in the Post~~calls on the Commission to ensure that Member States have the necessary flexibility should a level of digitalisation be provided such as to safeguard the right to information, in order to preserve the sustainability of the universal Sservice~~s Directive~~ by adapting it to users' new requirements and to recent developments in the relevant market; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density does not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligation;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions~~, comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that in some Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for~~ ; notes that, in compliance with the European Directive, the Universal Service Obligation is applied differently across Member States, reflecting certain flexibility for Member States to define the ~~Post~~Universal Service~~s Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density~~ Obligation to fit their domes ~~not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligation~~tic circumstances and ensure its long-term sustainability;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, ~~comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that in some Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for~~ notes that in compliance with the European Directive, the Universal Service Obligation is applied differently across Member States, reflecting certain flexibility for Member States to define the ~~Post~~Universal Service~~s Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density~~ Obligation to fit their domes ~~not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligation~~tic circumstances and ensure its long-term sustainability;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that inthe soame ~~Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for in the Post~~time that under the EU Directive, the obligation to provide a universal Sservice~~s Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density does not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery with~~ is being applied differently in different Member States, reflecting a degree of flexibility on the part of each Member State when defining the universal service obligation so as to suit domestic circumstances and ensure long- term sustainability;

Amendment 59 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Hugues BAYET, Theresa GRIFFIN, Miltiadis KYRKOS, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, ~~comprising at least five delivery~~based on delivery within five days and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that in some Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for in the Postal Services Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density ~~does not constitute grounds~~cannot be an excuse for reducing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligation;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)

– having regard to Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on temporary agency work, 5a __________________ 5a OJ L 327, 5.12.2008, p. 9.

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that ~~in some Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for in the Post~~, with a view to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the universal Sservice~~s Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density does not constitute grounds for reduc~~, and given their specific national characteristics and geographical situations, some Member States allow a degree of flexibility ing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligation in accordance with the aforementioned Directive;

Amendment 61 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Theresa GRIFFIN, Hugues BAYET, Miltiadis KYRKOS, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that ~~in some Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for in the Postal Services Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density~~the Universal Service Obligation is applied very differently across Member States, reflecting certain flexibility for Member States to define the USO to fit their domes ~~not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligation~~tic circumstances and ensure its long-term sustainability;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that ~~in some Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for in the Postal Services Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density~~the Universal Service Obligation is applied very differently across Member States, reflecting certain flexibility for Member States to define the USO to fit their domes ~~not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligation~~tic circumstances and ensure its long-term sustainability;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week within a limited distance for every EU citizen; notes that in some Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for in the Postal Services Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density does not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligation;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions~~, comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that in some Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for in the Post~~ for every EU resident; in accordance with the Postal Services Directive, the universal service shall evolve in response to the technical economic and social environment and to the needs of users, recalls that Member States are provided with the flexibility to make the universal Sservice~~s Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density does not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligation;~~ obligation fit to evolving markets and changing customers' needs and ensure its long-term sustainability.

Amendment 66 #

Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that in scom~~e Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for~~ pliance with the European Directive, the universal service obligation is applied differently across Member States, reflecting certain flexibility for Member States to define the ~~Post~~Universal Service~~s Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density~~ Obligation to fit their domes ~~not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligation~~tic circumstances and ensure its long-term sustainability;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 68 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Fabio DE MASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, comprising ~~at least~~the general obligation of five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that ~~in some Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for~~, as stated in the Postal Services Directive;, c~~alls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population density does not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery wit~~ertain flexibility is needed in order to ensure long-term sustainability of the universal service and appropriate adaptation to the specific geographical characteristics and demographinc t~~he universal service obligation~~rends in each Member State;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)

– having regard to its resolution on an integrated parcel delivery market for the growth of e-commerce in the EU (2013/2043(INI)),

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Points out that the universal service will evolve in response to the need to create a European single market, but also to the technical-economic and social environment and the needs of users, and that the Postal Services Directive offers Member States the flexibility to cater for specific local characteristics and ensure the long-term sustainability of universal service provision;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Considers that geographical coverage and accessibility to universal services for parcel deliveries can and must be improved, especially for citizens with disabilities and PRMs and those in remote areas; stresses the importance of ensuring barrier-free accessibility to postal services and the consistency of the Postal Services Directive with the Accessibility Act;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Recalls that the Universal Service shall evolve in response to the technical economic and social environment and to the needs of users, and that the Postal Services Directive provides Member States with the flexibility necessary to address local specificities and to ensure universal Service provision long-term sustainability;

Amendment 73 #

Miltiadis KYRKOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Recalls that the universal service shall evolve in accordance with the technical, economic and social environment and the needs of users, and that the Postal Services Directive provides Member States with the necessary flexibility to address local specificities and to ensure long-term sustainability to the universal service provision;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that in many Member States, the decline in letter volumes makes the provision of universal postal services more and more difficult; recognises that many designated universal service providers use revenues from non-USO commercial activities, such as financial services or parcel delivery, to finance the USO;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls for a flexible approach of the implementation of the Postal Services Directives taking into account the right of Member States to make use of the flexibility offered by the Postal Services Directive and the need to adapt to evolving markets and local specificities.

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that there are a number of instances of unfair competition in the postal sector and calls on the responsible authority to sanction any misconduct;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to monitor the provision of postal services as a public service in order to ensure a common level playing field among providers and prevent cross- subsidisation, and to review whether public service compensation is implemented in a manner that is proportionate, transparent and fair, while ensuring, however, that the ban on cross-subsidisation does not lead to a situation in which incumbent operators would be compelled to abandon their public service tasks;

Amendment 79 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Hugues BAYET, Theresa GRIFFIN, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to monitor the provision of postal services as a public service in order to ensure a common level playing field among providers and prevent cross- subsidisation,; asks the Commissiond to review whether public service compensation is implemented in a manner that is proportionate, transparent and fair; calls on the Commission to monitor the harmonized approach to unfair burden criterion in all Member States, based on objective and clear circumstances;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas between 2012 and 2013 letter post services shrank by 4.85 % on average in the EU, albeit with significant variations between Member States in reduction in volume, and although there are indications suggesting that the decline of letter mail revenues may now have bottomed-out;

Amendment 80 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Theresa GRIFFIN, Hugues BAYET, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to monitor the provision of postal services as a public service in order to ensure a common level playing field among providers and ~~prevent cross- subsidisation~~a good quality of service to its population and prevent unfair competition disadvantaging more sustainable providers, and to review whether public service compensation is implemented in a manner that is proportionate, transparent and fair;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to monitor the provision of postal services as a public service in order to ensure ~~a common level playing field among providers and prevent cross- subsidisation, and to review whether~~ that public service compensation is implemented in a manner that is proportionate, transparent and fair;

Amendment 82 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to monitor the provision of postal services as a public service in order to ensure a common level playing field among providers a~~nd prevent cross- subsidisation, and to review whether public service compensation is implemented in a manner that is proportionate, transparent and fair~~s well as a proportionate, transparent and fair implementation of public service compensation;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Member States ~~and the Commission~~ to monitor the provision of postal services as a public service in order to ensure a common level playing field among providers and prevent cross- subsidisation, and to review whether public service compensation is implemented in a manner that is proportionate, transparent and fair;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to monitor the provision of postal services as a public service in order to ensure a common level playing field among providers and ~~prevent cross- subsidisation, and to review whe~~to ensure fair compensation for ther public service ~~compensation is implement~~rendered in a manner that is proportionate, transparent and fair;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses the importance that prices within the scope of the USO must be affordable and must provide access to all users to the services provided; recalls that NRAs shall clearly define affordability for an item of correspondence and Member States may maintain or introduce free postal service for blind and partially sighted persons;

Amendment 87 #

Lucy ANDERSON, Theresa GRIFFIN, Olga SEHNALOVÁ, Hugues BAYET, Miltiadis KYRKOS, Christine REVAULT D'ALLONNES BONNEFOY, Isabella DE MONTE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Member States to maintain territorial and social cohesion and the associated quality requirements, and notes that Member States may already adapt some specific features to accommodate local demand by applying flexibility provided in Directive 97/67/EC; calls on the Member States to use State aid tools in a transparent and non- discriminatory and appropriate manner and to ensure that customers continue to have access to postal services, by maintaining a minimum number of services at the same access point; calls on the Commission to ensure, that compensation funds shall be proportionate and public procurement procedures are transparent and fair;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. CRecognises that postal networks and services are of general public interest; calls on the Member States to use State aid tools in a transparent and non- discriminatory manner and to ensure that customers continue to have access to postal services, by maintaining a minimum number of services at the same access point;

Amendment 89 #

Pavel TELIČKA, Jozo RADOŠ, Matthijs van MILTENBURG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Member States to use ~~State aid tools~~, only in exceptional cases, State aid tools in accordance with State Aid Rules, in a transparent and non- discriminatory manner and to ensure that customers continue to have access to postal services, by maintaining a minimum number of services at the same access point;

Amendment 9 #

Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Kateřina KONEČNÁ

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas between 2012 and 2013 letter post services shrank by 4.85 % on average in the EU according to the European Commission Postal Statistics Database; whereas this is part of the fast declining trend of letter volume all around the EU during the last 10 years;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Member States to use State aid tools, in line with EU competition policy, in a transparent and non- discriminatory manner and to ensure that customers continue to have access to postal services, by maintaining a minimum number of services at the same access point;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Member States to use State aid tools in a transparent and non- discriminatory manner and to ensure that customers continue to have access to postal services~~, by maintaining a minimum number of services at the same access point~~;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Member States to use State aid tools in a transparent and non- discriminatory manner and to ensure that customers continue to have access to postal services, by maintaining a minimum number of services at the same access point;(Does not affect the English version.)

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Asks the Member States to take appropriate regulatory measures, available under the Postal Services Directive, to ensure that accessibility to postal services continues to satisfy the needs of users by guaranteeing, where appropriate, a minimum number of services at the same access point;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Asks the Member States to ensure that market opening continues to benefit all users, in particular consumers and small and medium size enterprises in close supervision of the market developments; encourages to further address the improvements in the speed, choice and reliability of services;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Calls on the Commission to work on a harmonised definition of u~~Notes that the Universal sService ~~which stipulates a minimum level of service for consumers; calls on the~~Obligation is applied very differently across Member states, reflecting certain flexibility for Member Sstates to ~~further harmonise licensing procedures in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal market;~~define the universal service to fit their domestic circumstances, including at local level.

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission to work on a harmonised definition of universal service which stipulates a minimum level of service for consumers; maintains, however, given that each market has its own specific constraints, that operators should be allowed a measure of flexibility to organise the universal service; calls on the Member States to further harmonise licensing procedures in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal market;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission to work on a harmonised definition of universal service which stipulates a minimum guaranteed level of service for consumers; ~~calls on the Member States to further harmonise licensing procedures in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal market;~~

Amendment 99 #