[FridayoLeary]

Other users have pointed out this isn't entirely accurate but i'm still shocked. My understanding was the job of the eu was to impose continent wide standards to enable free exchange between member states. How does dictating the policy of national postal services achieve any of that?

[avianlyric]

The EU generally doesn’t like state subsidies of services. Which makes sense, because state subsidies would provide an unfair advantage to companies operating in that state, over other member states. Reducing trade and competition across the bloc.

For postal services, the same applies. EU doesn’t like the idea of a state owned or subsidised postal business, preventing the entrance of competition from companies in other member states, or allowing the subsidised entities to expand and outcompete companies in other EU states.

The EU doesn’t set national postal policy. It only requires that the basic postal service is an open to competition from entities (private and public) in any EU member. With a carve outs for the funding of universal service (I.e. making sure that every address gets post regardless of profitability), where state aid is clearly needed.

[hdgvhicv]

Preventing governemt monopoles in a specific areas is what the eu predecessors started of back in the coal and steel days.