The Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) has published an updated study by WIK-Consult on the intangible and market-related benefits that bpost has gained from its universal service obligation (USO). The study, now available on the BIPT website, takes into account recent decisions by the European Commission on state aid as well as the latest legal developments.
The original 2018 study identified, analysed, and quantified the key benefits that bpost derived from its role as the universal service provider for postal services in Belgium. These included positive effects on corporate reputation, advantages from the VAT exemption on universal services, and promotional benefits due to increased visibility. Previous state aid cases in Europe (Greece, Spain, Poland, and Italy) have estimated the value of intangible and market-related benefits at between 1% and 4.7% of USO revenue.
By publishing this report, BIPT aims to enhance transparency regarding the financial impact of these benefits on bpost’s net cost calculations and provide insights into the broader evaluation of state support in the postal sector.
The full study is available for download on the BIPT website.
