The future EU postal regulation. What can be learnt from the telecommunication regulations

Abstract

Postal and telecommunication markets are part of the network industry, regulated by specific regimes. After a long period of legal monopoly, the telecommunication market was fully liberalized before the postal one. Thus, the telecommunication regulatory framework has always been a pattern for the postal market in the EU. These two markets constantly develop in the fast-changing technological environment and shifting customer demands. The paper deals with the regulatory challenges of the EU postal market in light of the recently adopted telecommunication regulation - the EU Directive 2018/1972 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code. The directive has set new regulatory goals changing them to focus on high-speed internet connectivity and a more consumer-oriented market. The current postal regulatory framework has achieved all its goals and needs new ones to adjust the market to contemporary challenges. First, the paper critically analyzes the current EU regulatory framework in the postal market. Then, it proposes a new regulatory model considering market needs like mail-oriented universal postal service, fast-growing e-commerce, and the competition from new entrants.