The opening of the European postal market to competition is gaining ground as Member States transpose the 1997 postal directive into their national legislation and private postal companies expand their market shares. Moreover, changing regulatory trends (e.g., the ever-lower weight and price limits delimitating the scope of the reserved area) encourage further growth in the continuing liberalization of this important network industry.

This book is based on a conference held in Brussels in February 2001, under the auspices of the Universities of Liège and Ghent and the Free University of Brussels. It provides an in-depth assessment of the challenges presented not only by the prospect of liberalization but also by the transition (of particular significance during the next few years) from the traditional monopoly system.

Among the critical matters discussed are the following:

In addition, there are specific country reports from five EU Member States (France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and the United Kingdom) and Norway, bearing witness to the diversity of means adopted to implement the postal directive.