The annual session of the Postal Regulation Forum of the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (UPAEP) was held in Ponta Delgada in Portugal’s Azores Islands last 26-29 June.
At this Regulation Forum (in which the importance of the more active participation of regulators and government bodies is always highlighted) the most urgent matter underlying almost all discussions was the eventual withdrawal of the United States of America (USA) from the Universal Postal Union (UPU) as of October 2019, if the extraordinary congress scheduled for this September does not substantially revise the International Remuneration System and particularly the format E parcel terminal due rates. The USA and China are at odds about this matter, the former more reformist and the latter more conservative, and has divided the UPU member-countries over support for the three possible proposals to revise those terminal dues.
The participation of China, represented by the State Post Bureau (SPB), as a guest delegation at this Postal Regulation Forum, was thus invaluable, enabling face-to-face discussions and debates about positions on this divisive matter, which may lead to the end of an era in the UPU.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of the holding of meetings of the European Regulators Group for Postal Services (ERGP) in the same place on the same date, ANACOM promoted a joint UPAEP/ERGP workshop held on the morning of 27 June. The aim was to gauge “Regulation Challenges in Europe and the Americas”. The initiative was praised by all the participants, from both Europe and Latin America, as well as the Chinese and the North Americans, because it was possible for the first time to participate in the exchange of postal regulation experiences and in the discussion about different realities in both regions.
The UPAEP will determine upcoming work and organise the next session of the Regulation Forum in accordance with the conclusions and future actions decided in Ponta Delgada.
