Is the Universal Service for “Letters” Sustainable?

Article 3 of the EU’s Postal Directive still prescribes the provision of a universal service for “items of correspondence,” which guarantees: not less than five working days a week, one clearance, and one delivery to the home or premises of every natural or legal person. Yet many countries are deviating from this traditional model of postal service, and postal service providers are focusing more on parcel and e-commerce delivery, which is perceived as more profitable. This chapter questions whether the focus on parcel and e-commerce delivery is detrimental to the sustainable provision of the traditional letter post and suggests changes to the universal postal obligations needed to ensure the needs of future generations are met.