Members' Research Service By / July 14, 2016

Cross-border parcel delivery services [EU Legislation in Progress]

High prices and the inconvenience of cross-border parcel delivery have been identified as being among the main obstacles to a bigger uptake of e-commerce among European consumers and retailers.

Sveta / Fotolia

Written by Nikolina Šajn (4th edition),

Updated on 05.07.2018

heap of stacked corrugated cardboard package boxes with trolley on laptop keyboard with selective focus.
Sveta / Fotolia

High prices and the inconvenience of cross-border parcel delivery have been identified as being among the main obstacles to greater uptake of e-commerce among European consumers and retailers. Research shows that current cross-border parcel delivery prices charged by universal service providers can be almost five times higher than domestic parcel delivery prices.

To remedy the situation, the European Commission presented a legislative proposal on cross-border parcel delivery services as part of its May 2016 e-commerce package. The proposal’s aim was to contribute to a reduction in delivery prices through increased price transparency and improved regulatory oversight.

The final act was signed in April 2018, following a compromise agreement between Parliament and the Council reached in December 2017. The new regulation will enable consumers and businesses to compare parcel delivery prices on a dedicated website, while national regulatory authorities will be provided with greater powers to monitor cross-border tariffs and assess those they consider to be unreasonably high.


See also our Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment on the topic


Interactive PDF

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on cross-border parcel delivery services
Committee responsible:

Rapporteur:

Shadow rapporteurs:

 

 

 

 

Transport and Tourism (TRAN)

Lucy Anderson (S&D, United Kingdom)

Markus Ferber (EPP, Germany)
Kosma Złotowski (ECR, Poland)
Pavel Telička (ALDE, Czech Republic)
Tania González Peñas (GUE/NGL, Spain)
Jill Evans (Greens/EFA, United Kingdom)
Daniela Aiuto (EFDD, Italy)
Marie-Christine Arnautu (ENF, France)

COM(2016)285 of 25.05.2016

2016/0149 (COD)

Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’)

Procedure completed. Regulation (EU) 2018/644
OJ L 112, 2.5.2018, pp. 19–28

Stage: Adoption


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