Due to the liberalization of postal markets in Europe, close cooperation between National Regulators has become an imperative need. For this reason, the European Commission established in August 10, 2010, the European Regulators Group for Postal Services (ERGP), which met on December 1, 2010 for the first time.

EETT participates actively in ERGP aiming to obtain and transfer to the Greek postal market the know-how and best practices from countries that are already advanced in the process of liberalization.

The four important points that distinguish ERGP from any other European body for postal regulation are the following:

• Only the independent regulatory Authorities of each member state can participate in the Group.
• The participants are restricted only to the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA).
• The member states are represented at the highest level (Presidents of the Regulatory Authorities).
• A representative of the European Commission is present at the meetings.

According to its Work Program, in the years 2011-12 ERGP will focus mostly on the following issues:

• Cost accounting issues and price determination.
• Net cost of the Universal Service (US) obligation – VAT as a benefit/burden.
• End user satisfaction and monitoring of market outcomes.
• Cross-border issues (products and pricing/terminal dues).
• Regulating the access to the Public Postal Network.

In this framework, ERGP will serve as an advisory group of experts facilitating communication, coordination and cooperation between the independent Regulatory Authorities and between the Authorities and the Commission in order to meet the goals of postal reform in the EU.

In their first meeting, the Regulatory Authorities adopted two basic documents setting out the mode of operation of ERGP: (i) the Rules of Procedure, and (ii) the Work Program for 2011-2012. The Regulatory Authorities agreed that the multi-annual Work Program will have to be revised in the coming year and gave a commitment to work on regulatory issues, such as allocation of common costs, the net cost calculation of the US obligation with emphasis on the effects of VAT exemption, end user satisfaction and monitoring of market outcomes, cross-border products and the treatment of consolidators.