Activities of Lucy ANDERSON related to 2016/2010(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the application of the Postal Services Directive PDF (340 KB) DOC (138 KB)
Amendments (37)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to Article 9 TFEU on the promotion of a high level of employment and the guarantee of adequate social protection,
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls the fundamental role of the universal service obligation (USO) in the postal sector with regard to the development of a fair single market for citizens and consumers; notes the trend towards a narrower scope for the USO; and the flexibility for Member States to define the universal service to fit their domestic circumstances; underlines the possibility for national regulatory authorities (NRAs) to grant derogations from minimum obligations, based on objective and published criteria and subject to regular monitoring; recognises the benefits of the Keep Me Posted EU campaign to promote consumer choice;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
– having regard to Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on temporary agency work, 5a __________________ 5a OJ L 327, 5.12.2008, p. 9.
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution on an integrated parcel delivery market for the growth of e-commerce in the EU (2013/2043(INI)),
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes the Commission’s confirmation that the Postal Services Directive does not require any particular ownership structure for universal service providers (USPs); believes that USPs should not be prevented fromand alternative operators should be encouraged to investing and innovatinge in the provision of efficient and quality postal services;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas between 2012 and 2013 letter post services shrank by 4.85 % on average in the EU, albeit with significant variations between Member States in reduction in volume, and although there are indications suggesting that the decline of letter mail revenues may now have bottomed-out;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Commends the establishmentReiterates its support to the Postal Users Forum, which was established in 2011 by the Commission, aiming at submitting the views of the Ppostal User Forum for postal services user representativvices users and discuss with postal services operators the actual level of end-user satisfaction, identify the business-user particular requirements and discuss how to improve e-commerce delivery; Is of the opinion that the Forum was very useful and should meet regularly in order to confront different users’ expectations with postal services, operators and trade unionswork together with trade unions and other stakeholders for better solutions for parcel delivery;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that while the minimum standards associated with the universal service obligation (postal items up to 2 kg, postal packages up to 10-20 kg, registered and insured items, and other services of general economic interest such as newspapers and periodicals) generally meet customers’ demands, thesome detailed requirements are set by the national regulatory authorities (NRAs) entrusted with this task;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the growth in employment opportunities in the parcel delivery sector; underlines the benefits of quality and sustainable jobs in postal and delivery services, including on providing high and consistent standards of service to consumers; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that decent rights for workers in this sector are guaranteed, irrespective of employment status;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Member States to extend the role and independence of NRAs through high professional qualification criteria, fixed terms of office and legal protection against dismissal without causeNotes the primary task of NRAs is to meet the overall objective of the Postal Services Directive to ensure the provision of the universal service; calls on the Member States to support the role of NRAs, so that they can fulfil their obligations arising from the Postal Services Directive, without exceeding them;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Considers that any expansion of the role of NRAs under new regulation in the parcels market should tackle 'cherry picking' in the deliveries sector and establish minimum standards for all operators to ensure fair and equal competition;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that geographical coverage and accessibility to universal services for parcel deliveries can be improved, especially for vulnerable consumers and those in rural and remote areas;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Highlights the findings of the Commission’s public consultation on cross-border parcel delivery; notes that the Commission intends to launch measures in 2016 to improve price transparency and enhance regulatory oversight of parcel delivery;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Underlines the potential role of EU funding mechanisms such as Horizon 2020 and the European Structural and Investment Funds in facilitating innovation in postal and delivery services including e-commerce options of benefit for consumers, the environment and SMEs and solutions with social inclusion and accessibility objectives;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Asks the Commission to facilitate and reinforce cooperation and coordination between NRAs with a view to greaterfulfilling their primary task ensuring provision of the universal service, and improving efficiency and interoperability in cross-border deliverydelivery services;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Is convinced that consumers should be able to easily compare the performance of different postal operators, including price, coverage and speed of delivery;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Recalls that the European Parliament invited the Commission to explore the possibilities of creating a Pan-European Trustmark for e-Commerce, and whether such a Trustmark could also contribute to ensuring quality and reliability for integrated delivery services;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to launch measures in the first half of 2016 to improve price transparency and regulatory oversight of cross-border parcel delivery; Calls on the Commission to address properly all problems that consumers and businesses face in the delivery market, in particular unsatisfactory delivery times, lack of information or lack of clarity concerning liability for loss or damage;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes the Commission's confirmation that the Postal Services Directive does not require any particular ownership structure for universal service providers (USPs); believes that USPs should not be prevented from investing and innovating in the provision of efficient and quality postal services;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the importance of providing a high-quality universal service under affordable conditions, comprising at least five delivery and five collection days a week for every EU citizen; notes that in some Member States national regulation exceeds the flexibility provided for in the Postal Services Directive; calls on the Commission to reaffirm that low population densitythe Universal Service Obligation is applied very differently across Member States, reflecting certain flexibility for Member States to define the USO to fit their domes not constitute grounds for reducing the frequency of delivery within the universal service obligationtic circumstances and ensure its long-term sustainability;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to monitor the provision of postal services as a public service in order to ensure a common level playing field among providers and prevent cross- subsidisation, and to review whether that public service compensation is implemented in a manner that is proportionate, transparent and fair;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. CRecognises that postal networks and services are of general public interest; calls on the Member States to use State aid tools in a transparent and non- discriminatory manner and to ensure that customers continue to have access to postal services, by maintaining a minimum number of services at the same access point;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission to work on a harmonised definition of universal service which stipulates a minimum level of service for consumerguidance that sets out minimum levels of service for consumers under the USO, whilst recognising variations in consumer requirements and the provision of the USO across Member States; calls on the Member States to further harmonisereview licensing procedures in order to reduce unjustified barriers within the internal market;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Asks the Commission to lay downconsider minimum standards for value-added services such as track-and-trace, pick- up/drop-off locations, the ability to choose a delivery time, and suitable return procedures;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that service quality should be assessjudged oin the basis of minimum Europe-wide standards with a view to clight of the standards set out in the Direacting a fully integrated European postal sector;ve and the efforts and investment made by the European postal sector in order to increase interoperability and improve service quality.
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that parcel delivery is a highly competitive, innovative and fast- growing sector, and; notes the importance of affordable and reliable parcel delivery services in realising the full potential of the Digital Single Market; believes that any new regulation in the parcel delivery market must therefore be proportionate and supported by souwhilst effectively addressing the problems faced by retailers and economic evidencesumers, protecting employment rights, tackling social exclusion and encouraging environmental sustainability;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that parcel delivery is a highly competitive, innovative and fast- growing sector, and that any new regulation in the parcel delivery market must therefore be proportionate and supported by sound economic and labour market evidence;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Encourages the Commission to strengthen market oversight of parcel delivery where necessary, specifically by improving national regulators’ capacity to assess competition and identify unfair anti-competitive practices;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses the importance of improving consumer confidence and trust in cross-border delivery; considers that greater transparency as regards prices, delivery options, modalities and quality/performance (speed, geographical coverage, delays and the handling of damaged or lost items), as well as trust labels, could address the lack of confidence;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Asks the Member States and the Commission to improve transparency as regards pricing conditions and service performance (delivery options, final delivery, reliability), especially when it comes to e-commerce; stresses the importance of ensuring affordable cross- border delivery prices inand closing the gap between domestic and cross-border prices, particularly for consumers and SMEs; calls on the Commission to work with NRAs to explore why prices on some cross-border routes are higher in one direction than the otherconsiderably higher than the EU average;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Underlines the potential role of EU funding mechanisms such as Horizon 2020 , CEF and the European Structural and Investment Fund in facilitating innovation in postal and delivery services including e-commerce options of benefit for consumers, the environment and SMEs and solutions with social inclusion and accessibility objectives;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to investigate the functioning of cross-border parcel delivery in accordance with the various rules resulting from either international trade agreements (e.g. the rules of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or EU law (e.g. the Union Customs Code), especially the universal service obligation, which can be misused and create market distortion;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Member States to ensure decent working conditions for all employees in the postal services sector; recommends close monitoring of whether labour-market-related developments in the postal services sector comply with national law irrespective of whether their employment status is self-employed, subcontractor, temporary staff member or contract worker; calls on the Commission and Member States to closely monitor whether labour-market-related developments in the postal services sector comply with national law as well as to elaborate new means of automated postal deliveries, their impact on working conditions and employment and to assess the need for the modernisation of social and employment legislation to stay abreast of changes in the postal sector; encourages social partners to likewise update collective agreements where necessary so that high working and employment standards in the workplace can be ensured; highlights in this regard the importance of strong and independent social partners in the postal sector, an institutionalized social dialogue and the participation of employees in company matters;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Stresses the importance of monitoring compliance with mandatory driving and resting times as well as working hours in the postal sector; recalls that all tasks in relation to the activity of an employee are to be considered working time; stresses likewise the importance of monitoring compliance with European standards regarding the protection of health and safety at work, including conditions in vehicles, for all people involved in postal deliveries irrespective of whether their employment status is self- employed, subcontractor, temporary staff member or contract worker; believes that monitoring should take place by means of digital monitoring devices installed in the vehicle;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Stresses that the key to a socially sustainable transformation and adaptation in the postal sector lies in employee training; regards it as the employer's task to acquaint employees properly with new technologies such as IT and tracking applications; stresses that in the case of temporary contracts, the agency supplying the staff must give them adequate preparation and training;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Considers that increased competition should not generate illegal social practices or lead to the degradation of working conditions; is concerned about the already extremely high amount of outsourcing in the postal sector and the frequently accompanying evasion of working and employment standards; highlights in this context the long-term social and financial implications of precarious employment for individuals as well as social security systems;