The Postal Services Directive (97/67/EC), which guarantees the citizen EU-wide postal services, originally set a target of opening up postal markets to competition by 2009, but required the Commission to come forward with new legislation to confirm or modify this date in 2006.
Lai gan Eiropas Parlamenta grozījumi ES Padomei nav saistoši, Padome direktīvu var pieņemt tikai pēc Parlamenta atzinuma.