The new Postal Operations Council (POC) yesterday formally adopted a structure focused on product lines and designated the countries that will chair the various groups within four broad committees.
The POC is meeting for the first time since Congress.
Four committees will oversee the work of the Union in the areas of letter-post, parcels, postal financial services and standards and technology. Groups within these committees will further deal with specific operational issues affecting members of the postal sector, such as quality of service, customs, security, standards, addressing and electronic services, to name but a few.
POC Chairman, Andreas TAPRANTZIS, who is also the Greek Post's CEO, said a simplified structure will "streamline the decision-making process. Groups and Committees are taking up a lot of the burden. The plenary should be free from trivial decision-making and focus the debate on strategic issues. We need a fresh perspective… and make [it] attractive to the management of postal operators."
Some 700 delegates from around the world are at UPU headquarters in Berne to attend the POC, whose work plan over the next four years is ambitious.
During yesterday's plenary session, TAPRANTZIS talked about the need to develop projects that can be easily implemented regionally to contribute to enhancing the global postal network. He said it would be necessary to dedicate the necessary efforts and resources to develop the UPU's global monitoring system, which is expected to be implemented by 2010, in order to bring real improvements to the quality of service worldwide. Developing common international standards as well as products and services will also be important, he said.
During this POC, which lasts until 11 November, delegates will review some 270 proposals to amend regulations concerning letter-post, parcel and postal payment services, and start drawing up the various groups' work plans.
With an annual budget of slightly more than 37 million Swiss francs, the UPU will have to coordinate its activities in the most efficient manner, said UPU Director General Edouard DAYAN. The POC and the Council of Administration (CA) will have to work closely together, he said, especially in terms of postal development and strategy.
The CA, the 41-member country body that approves the Union's work and budget, will meet immediately after the POC, from 12 to 14 November.
More information: POC Organization chart