The EU Court of Justice rules that an undertaking providing an express mail service may be required to pay postal dues to the operator responsible for the universal postal service (TNT Traco / Poste Italiane)

AN UNDERTAKING PROVIDING AN EXPRESS MAIL SERVICE MAY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES BE REQUIRED TO PAY POSTAL DUES TO THE OPERATOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL SERVICE* In the case of a service of general economic interest, postal dues must enable compensation to be paid for any losses that may result from operating the universal postal service In Italy, the collection, carriage and delivery of mail are, in principle, services provided exclusively by the State. Any contravention is punishable by a fine (20 times the postage rate, subject to a minimum of 800 lire). Since 1998 the State has provided the service through a joint stock company - Poste Italiane SpA - in which the