Postal Standardization – a strategic priority for the European Union

The annual Union Work Programme for European #Standardization for 2022 defines postal services as 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. Ref. 11 of the 𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 C(2022) 546 final, published today, 2 February 2022, emphasizes the need to improve the #quality of #service and promote #interoperability between national networks, as well as to ensure an #efficient universal service within the internal market.

Under “𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀” 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 in Reference 11 of the 𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 published today, 2 February 2022, the EU sets out its intention to request drafting of European #standards and standardization deliverables to support #Europeanlegislation to achieve a common postal service and cross-border parcel #deliverymarket.

Technical standardization is indispensable for promoting interoperability between national networks and an efficient universal service. Therefore, the European Committee for Standardization (#CEN) will be entrusted with drawing up technical standards applicable in the postal sector, following standardization requests adopted by the #Commission. This work will consider the #harmonization measures adopted at international level, in particular those decided upon within the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻. 

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀
Due to the #international nature of the #postal and #parcelsector, European and international technical standards need to be developed to benefit users and the #environment, and to broaden #marketopportunities for businesses. Furthermore, users often report #quality of service issues when sending, receiving or returning cross-border parcels. Consequently, improvements are needed in quality of service standards and the interoperability of cross-border parcel delivery services.

Some standards and standardization deliverables from the previous standardization mandates need revision, to reflect recent #developments in Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS Regulation). The standards and standardization deliverables related to „Secured electronic Postal Service (SePS)“ must be adopted by CEN by the deadlines set out in the upcoming 5th EU Commission Standardization Request. 

The postal sector is dedicated to twinning digitalization and the green deal, and therefore the upcoming European postal standardization work cycle is placing a special focus on this topic.