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Postal Services Directive

Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service
31997L0067 · official text on EUR-Lex

Articles

Chapter 1 Objective and scope

• Article 1 — This Directive establishes common rules concerning:
• Article 2 — For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions shall apply:

Chapter 2 Universal service

• Article 3
• Article 4
• Article 5
• Article 6 — Member States shall take steps to ensure that users are regularly given sufficiently detailed and up-to-date information by the universal service provider(s) regarding the particular features of the universal services offered, with special reference to the general conditions of access to these services as well as to prices and quality standard levels. This information shall be published in an appropriate manner.

Chapter 3 Harmonization of the services which may be reserved

• Article 7
• Article 8

Chapter 4 Conditions governing the provision of non-reserved services and access to the network

• Article 9
• Article 10
• Article 11

Chapter 5 Tariff principles and transparency of accounts

• Article 12 — Member States shall take steps to ensure that the tariffs for each of the services forming part of the provision of the universal service comply with the following principles:
• Article 13
• Article 14
• Article 15

Chapter 6 Quality of services

• Article 16 — Member States shall ensure that quality-of-service standards are set and published in relation to universal service in order to guarantee a postal service of good quality.
• Article 17 — Member States shall day down quality standards for national mail and shall ensure that they are compatible with those laid down for intra-Community cross-border services.
• Article 18
• Article 19 — Member States shall ensure that transparent, simple and inexpensive procedures are drawn up for dealing with users' complaints, particularly in cases involving loss, theft, damage or non-compliance with service quality standards.

Chapter 7 Harmonisation of technical standards

• Article 20 — The harmonisation of technical standards shall be continued, taking into account in particular the interests of users.

Chapter 8 The committee

• Article 21 — The Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of the representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission. The committee shall establish its own rules of procedure.

Chapter 9 The national regulatory authority

• Article 22 — Each Member State shall designate one or more national regulatory authorities for the postal sector that are legally separate from and operationally independent of the postal operators.

Chapter 10 Final provisions

• Article 23 — Without prejudice to Article 7(3), three years after the date of entry into force of this Directive, and in any event no later than 31 December 2000, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Directive, including the appropriate information about developments in the sector, particularly concerning economic, social, employment and technological aspects, as well as about quality of service.
• Article 24 — Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive not later than 12 months after the date of its entry into force. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
• Article 25
• Article 26
• Article 27
• Article 28 — This Directive is addressed to the Member States.