EU negotiators reached a provisional agreement last night to make prices for cross-border parcel delivery services more transparent and affordable and to increase regulatory oversight of the EU parcel market.  The new Regulation is a key pillar of the Commission's efforts to boost e-commerce to allow

consumers and companies, in particular SMEs, to buy and sell products and services online more easily and confidently across the EU.

The main elements of the new Regulation on cross-border parcel delivery are: Price transparency: While the Regulation does not impose a cap on prices, it will foster competitive pressure by allowing users to easily compare domestic and cross-border tariffs. Parcel delivery providers will have to disclose prices for the services individual consumers and small businesses often use, which the Commission will publish on a website. Regulatory oversight: Where parcel delivery is subject to the universal service obligation, National Regulatory Authorities will assess whether tariffs for cross-border services are unreasonably high compared to the underlying cost – as they already do for postal services. National regulators will be given new powers to identify better parcel service providers and the services they offer. This will allow them to get a better overview also of the many innovative new players in the fast-growing EU cross-border e-commerce market.

Traders also have to provide consumers with clear information on prices charged for cross-border parcel delivery and returns, and customer complaints procedures, in line with the Consumers Rights Directive.