Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Article 13 Postal services

1. This Directive shall apply to activities relating to the provision of:

(a) postal services;

(b) other services than postal services, on condition that such services are provided by an entity which also provides postal services within the meaning of point (b) of paragraph 2 of this Article and provided that the conditions set out in Article 34(1) are not satisfied in respect of the services falling within point (b) of paragraph 2 of this Article.

2. For the purpose of this Article and without prejudice to Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(1):

(a) ‘postal item’ means an item addressed in the final form in which it is to be carried, irrespective of weight. In addition to items of correspondence, such items also include for instance books, catalogues, newspapers, periodicals and postal packages containing merchandise with or without commercial value, irrespective of weight;

(b) ‘postal services’ means services consisting of the clearance, sorting, routing and delivery of postal items. This shall include both services falling within as well as services falling outside the scope of the universal service set up in conformity with Directive 97/67/EC;

(c) ‘other services than postal services’ means services provided in the following areas:

(i)

mail service management services (services both preceding and subsequent to despatch, including mailroom management services);

(ii)

services concerning postal items not included in point (a), such as direct mail bearing no address.

(1)

Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service (OJ L 15, 21.1.1998, p. 14).