Brussels, 15 November 2024
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Poland’s plans to compensate Poczta Polska for its universal postal service obligation over the period 2021-2025.
In 2015, Poczta Polska was entrusted with the provision of the universal postal service obligation for the period 2015-2025 but was not compensated for it over the period 2015-2020. In December 2022, Poland informed the Commission of its plans to compensate Poczta Polska approximately €865 million for the period 2021-2025.
The Commission’s assessment
The Commission has assessed the Polish measure under EU State aid rules, and in particular under Article 106(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as well as the rules on public service compensation, under the Service of General Economic Interest (‘SGEI’) Framework and the Postal Services Directive.
The Commission concluded that:
- The scope of the universal service obligation is in line with the definition set out in the Postal Services Directive. In particular, it includes the delivery, at post offices and mailboxes at least five days a week, of postal items up to two kilograms, postal packages up to 20 kilograms, recommended letters and items for blind and partially sighted persons.
- The entrustment of Poczta Polska with the universal service obligation for the provision of postal services following a competitive tender organised by the Polish authorities is in line with the rules on public service compensation and the Postal Services Directive.
- The compensation is based on a robust and conservative methodology, which ensures that it will not exceed the net cost of the public service entrusted to Poczta Polska.
On this basis, the Commission approved the Polish measure under EU State aid rules.
Background
Under EU State aid rules on public service compensation, and in particular under the SGEI Framework, adopted in 2011, companies can be compensated for the extra cost of providing a public service under certain conditions. This enables Member States to grant State aid for the provision of public services, while making sure that companies are not overcompensated, which minimises distortions of competition and guarantees an efficient use of public resources.
Poczta Polska is a wholly state-owned company and is Poland’s traditional postal operator with responsibility for the universal postal service and a number of additional public service obligations.
The non-confidential version of the decision will be published under the case number SA.105121 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. New publications of State aid decisions on the internet and in the Official Journal are listed in the Competition weekly e-News.
Quote(s)
The universal service obligation is essential to ensure the delivery of letters and packages across the EU. Today’s decision confirms that Poland’s plans to compensate Poczta Polska for the provision of universal postal services across Poland to the benefit of citizens and in line with EU State aid rules.
Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President in charge of competition policy
Source – EU Commission