•  
  •  
 

Keywords

services of general economic interest, universal service, universal services, the Postal law, net cost, subsidy to universal services, loss on universal services

Abstract

In European Union law, as well as in Polish law that implements European solutions, it is an accepted belief that a certain catalogue of postal services should be commonly available. Such services are referred to as a universal service (EU law) or universal services (Polish law). The provision of universal services may not be economically justifi able for postal operators, and thus there is a risk that such services would not be provided in a competitive market. The law thus defi nes procedures for the imposition of the obligation to provide universal services and the terms and conditions of universal services provision, including price policy restrictions. To refund costs of universal services provision, EU law contains rules on their fi nancing. Models prescribed in European directives should be implemented by EU member states. Poland’s new Postal law entered into force on 1 January 2013 and introduced a different model of universal services fi nancing. Previously, a subsidy from the state budget could be granted to the operator which provided universal services. After the implementation of the legislative changes, costs of universal services provision are to be covered directly by operators providing services within the scope of universal services, provided they achieve a legally specifi ed level of revenue, or from the state budget, if fi nancing by postal operators does not cover all costs. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the conformity of the model of universal services financing adopted in the new Polish Postal Act with the law of the European Union. The evaluation will be performed in light of postal sector legislation as well as provisions related to staid aid.

First Page

9

Last Page

22

Page Count

13

Publisher

University of Warsaw

Download

Share

COinS