MEPs back 2011 deadline for liberalisation of mail services

Mail delivery across the European Union should be liberalised by 2011, a panel of MEPs has recommended, backing countries such as France and Luxembourg seeking a postponement of the 2009 deadline proposed by the EU’s executive arm.

The European Parliament’s transport committee voted last night to push the market opening back by two years, arguing that more time was needed to ensure mail will continue to be delivered EU-wide at an affordable cost and for national postal operators to adapt to more competition.