Price transparency for parcel deliveries
19.11.2015
Question for written answer E-014859-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Barbara Kappel (ENF)
In the Digital Single Market Strategy published in May 2015 the Commission proposed boosting consumer confidence in EU-wide online trading through affordable and high-quality cross-border parcel delivery services. According to the Commission, market operators complain about the lack of transparency, the excessive costs of small consignments and the lack of interoperability between the various players. Moreover, an abundance of regulatory impediments discourages online retailers from cross-border deliveries (consumer protection, customs, different tax regimes of Member States, etc.). The economy has already reacted by adopting self-regulation (industrial initiative) to meet efficiency, quality and service requirements for cross-border parcel delivery services. However, the Commission intends, in the first half 2016, to take measures to improve price transparency and regulatory oversight.
In view of the above, will the Commission say:
- 1.What practical measures does it intend to take in the context of price transparency to ascertain the delivery costs for very small consignments?
- 2.Which suppliers in particular should make a contribution to price transparency, in the Commission’s view?
- 3.Where does it consider that self-regulation has some ‘catching-up’ to do?