In 23 December 2019, the AdC commented on a set of matters relating to the provision of the universal postal service.
The AdC reiterated the recommendations contained in its Report "Liberalization of the postal sector: Main competition issues", published in July 2010.
The AdC considered that the universal postal service and other services and activities in the postal sector should be ensured through the functioning of the market or, if this were not feasible, through the adoption of market mechanisms and, in particular, public tenders. In the AdC's view, this implied not including in the universal postal service concession contract(s) activities where conditions of competition might exist.
The AdC considered that competition for the market should be promoted in the process of awarding the universal postal service concession contract(s), namely by dividing the service contract into lots (by services and/or geographical areas) concession. The AdC considered that the criteria for selecting the universal postal service provider(s) should focus on aspects of price and quality of the service provided to consumers.
The AdC considered that access to the infrastructure elements of the universal postal service provider should be effectively ensured.
The AdC referred to the importance of reviewing the rules relating to the application of VAT to the postal sector in order to minimize market distortion resulting from the application of the tax and, thus, ensure a level playing field for all postal service providers.