Press Release: Malta Chamber of SMEs welcomes launch of direct flights to New York
17 September 2025
The Malta Chamber of SMEs welcomes the positive news that direct flights between Malta International...
Steps to improve parcel delivery
23 November 2012
EU wants a greater number of online deliveries. – Michel Barnier,
the European commissioner for the internal market, is to announce steps towards
improving parcel delivery services within the European Union as part of
attempts to increase the amount of trade carried out online.
The European
Commission is scheduled to put forward a consultative green paper on an
‘integrated parcel delivery market' on Wednesday (28 November) that could lead
to proposals to create an EU-wide delivery system. Barnier will say that the
existing market for parcel deliveries is not providing a basic reliable and
affordable service for consumers. He will also say that deliveries are not
meeting the needs of retailers.
Online sales
Parcel deliveries
have seen a huge expansion over the past few years with the growth of online
sales, but only a fraction of them take place between different countries.
Studies show that consumers are wary of buying goods online from websites based
abroad because of the high price of deliveries, fears about the reliability of
the service and a lack of knowledge about what to do when things go wrong.
Small retailers say that they are reticent about selling their goods
cross-border for similar reasons.
Barnier will
consult on the steps needed to create an ‘EU single market for deliveries' and
look at what measures are needed to improve the convenience and affordability
of delivery services and promote improved co-operation between delivery
operators in different countries.
