Moldova transposes European rules, conditions governing activities in postal communications sector into national legislation

The procedure of funding for the universal postal service (S.E. “Poșta Moldovei” (Moldova’s Post)) will be supplemented with a compensation mechanism that will include contributions from each postal service provider. The provision is included in the draft amendments to the Law on Postal Communications, approved by parliament in its second reading.

The legislative initiative belongs to the Economic Development and Digitalization Ministry and transposes more European directives in the field into national legislation, as well as the EU Regulation on cross-border parcel delivery services. According to the authors, the amendments aim to modernize the national regulatory framework, particularly in the context of the rapid development of e-commerce and parcel delivery services.

Thus, the legislation will establish a mechanism for compensating the net cost when universal service obligations represent an unfair burden for the designated provider. The net cost will be compensated by 50 per cent through contributions from postal service providers with an annual turnover of at least 10 million lei, through the direct redistribution of the compensated amount among these providers, while the remaining 50 per cent will be covered from the state budget through the state aid mechanism. At the same time, the universal postal service provider will contribute to compensating the net cost from revenues got from postal services provided outside the universal service.

The National Agency for Regulation in Communications will have additional responsibilities concerning the mechanism for compensating the net cost of the universal postal service and will monitor its implementation.

The Law on Postal Communications has also been supplemented with a number of new definitions. The legislation specifies that a postal parcel is one or more grouped postal items containing goods with or without commercial value, with each item weighing no more than 31.5 kg. The 31.5 kg limit will apply to each parcel individually, rather than to a consolidated shipment.

Presently, S.E. “Poșta Moldovei” provides the universal service exclusively through its own resources. Although it does not receive external compensation, the enterprise is required to maintain post offices in localities with small populations and a low volume of transactions. As a result, 54 per cent of all post offices are unprofitable.

The new provisions will enter into force on January 1, 2027. An exception is made for certain articles, which will enter into force on the date of accession to the European Union.





Fereastră în fereastră (iframe)

Communication and Public Relations Directorate of Moldova’s Parliament