CHAPTER 2

Universal service
Article 5
1
Each Member State shall take steps to ensure that universal service provision meets the following requirements:
- it shall offer a service guaranteeing compliance with the essential rerquirements,
- it shall offer an identical service to users under comparable conditions,
- it shall be made available without any form of discrimination whatsoever, especially without discrimination arising from political, religious or ideological considerations,
- it shall not be interrupted or stopped except in cases of force majeure,
- it shall evolve in response to the technical, economic and social environment and to the needs of users.
2
The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not preclude measures which the Member States take in accordance with requirements relating to the public interest recognised in the Treaty, in particular Articles 30 and 46 thereof, concerning,
inter alia
, public morality, public security, including criminal investigations, and public policy.
Substituted by Directive 2008/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 2008 amending Directive 97/67/EC with regard to the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services.