Today, at the premises of the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP), a meeting was held with representatives of PostEurop.
Present on behalf of AKEP were Mr. Bleron Dokle, Member of the Steering Council; Mr. Lorenc Bako, Member of the Steering Council; and Mr. Gazmir Mani, Director of the Regulatory and Market Supervision Directorate.
PostEurop was represented by Ms. Elena Fernández Rodríguez, Chair of the Board of Directors of PostEurop, and Mr. Botond Szebeny, Secretary General of PostEurop, accompanied by Mr. Gjergj Hamiti and Ms. Ermira Shtylla from Albanian Post JSC.
The meeting served as an opportunity for mutual acquaintance and discussion on the challenges and developments of the postal sector, within the framework of exchanging experiences and best practices between regulatory institutions and representatives of the European postal sector.
Discussions addressed key issues related to current developments and market challenges, particularly in the context of the growth of e-commerce and the changes it has brought to the provision of postal services.
AKEP representatives presented the legal framework governing postal service provision in Albania, which is harmonized with European Union legislation, as well as the measures AKEP is undertaking to strengthen market supervision.
It was emphasized that AKEP has paid special attention to this sector, including the establishment of a dedicated unit responsible for overseeing postal service provision and ensuring compliance with regulatory obligations.
Further, several challenges related to the functioning of the postal market were highlighted, including concerns about informality in the provision of postal services and the absence of a comprehensive address system— both of which directly affect service quality.
AKEP informed that it is working on an action plan to address these issues in cooperation with postal operators and relevant institutions, with the aim of improving the quality of postal service delivery in line with European Union standards.
Additionally, discussions included topics related to the obligation to maintain separate accounts for the provision of the Universal Postal Service and the delivery of postal items to recipients’ addresses.
PostEurop representatives presented the role and function of the association as an organization representing postal operators from EU member states and neighboring countries, sharing insights on common challenges faced by postal service providers—such as the growth of e-commerce, competition from international platforms, and the implementation of regulatory obligations for the Universal Postal Service.
They also shared their experiences regarding the difficulties of maintaining separate accounts for this service and the challenges associated with the lack of standardized address systems—issues that are also present in other European countries.
In this context, regarding these two key points, PostEurop representatives expressed their readiness to cooperate with AKEP and Albanian postal operators to exchange best practices and successful experiences in addressing issues related to postal market functioning and service quality – aiming to foster competition in the Albanian postal sector and enhance service quality for citizens and businesses.