COM(2012)698 - GREEN PAPER An integrated parcel delivery market for the growth of e-commerce in the EU

official title

 

Legal instrument	Green paper
Decision making procedure	Own-initiative procedure (INI)
reference by COM-number147	COM(2012)698
Additional COM-numbers	COM(2012)698
procedure number149	2013/2043(INI)
CELEX number150	52012DC0698

This page is also available in a full version containing the latest state of affairs, the summary of the European Parliament Legislative Observatory, the legal context, other dossiers related to the dossier at hand, the stakeholders involved (e.g. European Commission directorates-general, European Parliament committees, Council configurations and even individual EU Commissioners and Members of the European Parliament), consultations relevant to the dossier at hand and finally documents of the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission.

• 1. 

  The internet economy has brought about 21% of the growth in GDP in the last five years. It also generates 2.6 jobs for every job cut and at times accounts for 25% of net employment creation (COM (2011) 942 final).
  
   
• 2. 

  'A coherent framework for building trust in the Digital Single Market for e-commerce and online services', COM (2011) 942 final.
  
   
• 3. 

  Council of the EU, Conclusions on the Digital Single Market and Governance of the Single Market, 31 May 2012; Resolution (P7_TA82010)0320) of 21 September 2010 on completing the internal market for e-commerce.
  
   
• 4. 

  42 % of online businesses in UK prioritize improved delivery services compared to 18% for investment in faster broadband.
  
   
• 5. 

  In short, any small items and goods that can be handled by one person.
  
   
• 6. 

  66% of all 'cart abandonments' are due to delivery factors, 2011 consumer trends in multi-channel retailing, by Royal Mail.
  
   
• 7. 

  According to estimates from FTI Consulting, small retailers account for 22% of cross-border e-commerce volumes. Eurostat estimates that over a quarter of all enterprises send e-commerce orders to other EU countries: of these, 23% are small enterprises, 41% are large and 33% are medium enterprises.
  
   
• 8. 

  A study carried out by Civic Consulting estimates that the EU is missing out on the potential of e-commerce: the total welfare gains for EU consumers from a hypothetical situation where the share of e-commerce in total retailing would be 15% (instead of the 2010 level of 3.5%) is estimated to amount to 204.5 billion Euros per year or 1.7% of EU GDP.
  
   
• 9. 

  'Focus on the Future' by BCG, May 2012; IMRG; ACSEL; 'Intra-community cross-border parcel delivery', FTI 2011; Set of national On line barometers by E-bay; 'The evolution of the European Postal market since 1997', ITA/ WIK 2009; IPC Cross border E-commerce report 2010, Eurobarometer, 'Consumer market study on the functioning of e-commerce and Internet marketing and selling techniques in the retail of goods', Civic 2011.
  
   
• 10. 

  Eurobarometer, Business attitude Towards cross-border sales and consumer protection, Analytical report, Flash Eurobarometer 224, July 2008, Chapter 2, section 2.1, page 21.
  
   
• 11. 

  'Consumer market study on the functioning of e-commerce and Internet marketing and selling techniques in the retail of goods', Civic Consulting, September 2011, pages 132, 40.
  
   
• 12. 

  A recent UK survey indicates that almost 65% of the respondents mentioned that the risk of failed delivery (due to no-one at home to receive the item) would prevent them from shopping online. Too vague timeslots and the risk that the item may not arrive on time are also a concern for about 43% of the respondents ("A study of online fulfilment requirements", IMRG UK Consumer Home Delivery Review 2012).
  
   
• 13. 

  Communication "Small Business, Big World
   
• 14. 

  E-commerce in the Nordics 2012, Postnord.
  
   
• 15. 

  Different models are in place for cross border shipments notably via co-operation between national postal services, via direct injection into the national postal system or via other agreements with logistic operators.
  
   
• 16. 

  In the EU-27 only 9% of EU consumers and
   
• 17. 

  The total sales of products for which demand is low or whose sales volume is low can equal or exceed the market shares of best-selling products if sellers can offer a wider choice.
  
   
• 18. 

  For example, 57% of retailers consider cross-border delivery an obstacle (Flash Eurobarometer 224, July 2008). 78% of eBay sellers identify delivery costs as the main obstacle to cross-border e-commerce, 42% refer to bad quality of delivery services (FreshMinds, Crossborder trade survey in the UK, Germany and France).
  
   
• 19. 

  In a survey in the UK, free delivery was the most-cited factor by 67% of respondents for making them continuing or increase their usage of an e-retailer (Delivery Matters, 2011 Consumer Trends in multi-channel retailing _Royal Mail).
  
   
• 20. 

  ITA/WIK 2009. These figures refer to 2008 and include parcel and express market. Another study from IPC indicates the value of the EU CEP market in 2008 to be
   
• 21. 

  In the Postal Directive (Directive 97/67/EC, as amended by Directives 2002/39/EC and 2008/6/EC), items of correspondence or documents up to 2 kg are considered as letter, goods up to 20 kg are considered to be parcels.
  
   
• 22. 

  Eurostat (Isoc_ec_ebuyn2) Fig 11.
  
   
• 23. 

  Universal Service
   
• 24. 

  See Chapter 4 for more information on the Postal Services Directive.
  
   
• 25. 

  And notably for consumers and SMEs: the lack of a low cost option for packets (below 2 kg); service features such as track and trace options exist but may be offered only in combination with higher added value features.
  
   
• 26. 

  Third party logistics provide assistance to customers for outsourced services for part, or all of their logistics (such as, pick and pack, warehousing, documentation, labelling procedures and distribution). Online brokers and parcel consolidators offer discounts on single shipments by integrators, or national operators.
  
   
• 27. 

  Volumes estimations and capacity planning, time schedules where volumes, routes as well as consumer expectations have to be taken into account.
  
   
• 28. 

  A survey by IRMG for their UK Consumer Home Delivery Review 2012, showed that 85% of the respondents listed access to online tracking information as the single most important way to make deliveries more convenient ("IRMG UK Consumer Home Delivery Review 2012
   
• 29. 

  FTI (2011); Civic Consulting (2011); Mystery Shopping Evaluation of Cross-Border e-commerce in the EU (2009).
  
   
• 30. 

  Postal operators delivering their priority parcel products through the European Parcel Group's integrated delivery network benefit from a track-and-trace system and an automated customer service system linking each postal
   
• 31. 

  A number of surveys have been undertaken to identify the needs of consumers vis-à-vis the delivery of goods ordered on line. For example, 'Home delivery in the UK 2011' by Snow Valley, IPC Cross border E-commerce report 2010; IRMG (2012), CIVIC (2011).
  
   
• 32. 

  A study on consumer experiences with online shopping shows that the majority of problems consumers experience when buying goods concern delivery: long delivery times (28% of consumers reporting a problem), damaged product delivered (20%), non-delivery (17%), wrong product delivered (14%), and delivery costs or final price was higher than displayed on website (7%).
  
   
• 33. 

  IPC Cross border e-commerce report.
  
   
• 34. 

  The 2011 online retail delivery report, Snow Valley.
  
   
• 35. 

  Consumer Focus.
  
   
• 36. 

  More and more UK consumers would like to receive a text to confirm information on delivery status: 80% of online shoppers say they like to receive updates at every stage of the delivery, Delivery matters, 2011.
  
   
• 37. 

  IPC Cross border E-commerce report 2010.
  
   
• 38. 

  Top 2 barriers to cross border shipping in France are the high cost of shipping (78%) and poor shipping services (42%), compared to 28% for lack of demand, or 12% for cultural differences (eBay report).
  
   
• 39. 

  Including the costs for renewing the fleet in order to keep it updated to meet environmental standards.
  
   
• 40. 

  As in the demonstration action DiSCwise, (www.discwise.eu/).
  
   
• 41. 

  Directive 97/67/EC, as amended by Directives 2002/39/EC and 2008/6/EC.
  
   
• 42. 

  Only 36% of the parcel market is held by universal service providers; and of those 36% only a small amount fall under the universal service obligations. The minimum requirements in the Postal Directive entail the provision of over the counter or basic parcel services. Minimum universal service obligations are spelled out in article 3 of the Directive but Member States can go beyond these requirements.
  
   
• 43. 

  COM (2011) 635final 11.10.2011.
  
   
• 44. 

  Commission proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC (Directive on consumer ADR), COM(2011) 793 final adopted on 29 November 2011.
  
   
• 45. 

  Article 19 of the Postal Directive calls upon Member States to encourage the development of independent out-of-court schemes for the resolution of disputes.
  
   
• 46. 

  Directive 2006/123/EC.
  
   
• 47. 

  ec.europa.eu/internal_market/services/docs
  
   
• 48. 

  EC-White Paper: Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area, COM(2011) 144 final and the e-Freight initiative: ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/planned_ia/docs
  
   
• 49. 

  For example, Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, OJ L 152, 11 June 2008 provides for a regulatory framework in relation to air quality objectives in the EU.
  
   
• 50. 

  As laid down in Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93 and Directive 2001/95/EC on general product safety.
  
   
• 51. 

  More on the scope of VAT exemption in the postal sector: see the preliminary ruling of the CJEU in case C-357/07, The Queen, on the application of TNT Post UK Ltd v The Commissioners for Her
   
• 52. 

  For example, point 19 of Article 2 of the Postal Services Directive identifies compliance with the terms and conditions of employment as one of the possible essential requirements for the postal service providers when applying for the authorization.
  
   
• 53. 

  Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of the Council of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code, OJ L 302, 19.10.1992.
  
   
• 54. 

  Please note that your replies to the subsequent questions should at any rate be based on the definition as set out in the Green
   
• 55. 

  47% of consumers indicate that the lack of delivery convenience may prevent them from shopping online (Consumer Focus research on consumer needs, November 2010).
  
   
• 56. 

  In addition to the requirements in EU consumer legislation that oblige traders to provide clear and transparent information to consumers, notably their rights to withdraw from distance contracts.
  
   
• 57. 

  In addition to the information requirements in the EU consumer legislation and the Services and the E-commerce Directives (2006/123/EC and 2000/31/EC).
  
   
• 58. 

  See Article 19 of the Postal Service Directive establishing transparent complaint procedures, mediation services and alternative dispute resolution systems.
  
   
• 59. 

  On the specific subject of multimodal liability, the Commission is awaiting the outcome of the ratification process of the Rotterdam Rules by Member States.
  
   
• 60. 

  For cost allocation purposes, 'weight, insurance levels and speed' are not necessarily cost drivers which are associated with all postal activities (collection, transport, sorting and delivery). Additionally, the allocation of common costs to the various postal products usually involves the use of a general allocator (such as EPMU
   
• 61. 

  E.g. an increased level of harmonisation of delivery process, efficiency gains, consolidation and sharing facilities at local logistic hubs. See also e-Freight initiative: ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/planned_ia/docs
  
   
• 62. 

  See Chapter 4 on the current regulatory framework.
  
   
• 63. 

  FTI, CIVIC (2011), Eurobarometer, Accenture 'European cross border e-commerce' (2011), YouGov Psychonomics 'Mystery Shopping Evaluation of Cross-Border e-commerce in the EU' (2009). YouGov Psychonomics reports that the delivery price charged by e-commerce and distant vendors to consumers is on average twice as high for cross-border than for domestic deliveries: the average cost of shipping for domestic offers was
   
• 64. 

  Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme, Digital Convergence Operational Programme, or other initiatives to develop specific technologies, such as, the use of Radio Frequency Identification Data.
  
   
• 65. 

  On the one hand, there are differences between domestic and cross-border IT platforms, which may even differ for those delivery operators which have a cross-border presence in the EU. On the other hand, there is information which could be shared between e-retailers and delivery operators so as to improve capacity planning on both sides. For example, e-retailers have the data regarding the products bought online and know when and how much will be put in the delivery pipeline. As for returns, it could be useful for e-retailers to be informed about the volume and time of returns in real-time, which would allow for proactive customer care and for effective stock management.
  
   
• 66. 

  The DiSCwise project (www.discwise.eu/), funded by DG ENTR, aims to get stakeholders more connected, by assisting their integration into efficient co-modal supply chains. It allows transport
   
• 67. 

  Ideally, those platforms would streamline delivery for e-commerce, integrate logistic services with shared information systems, improve coordination, and use a common or agreed carrier for delivery (limiting environmental impact and facilitate handling of returns and management of stocks).
  
   
• 68. 

  An example of such a task force was the former US Mailing Industry Task Force which was created in the 90's and brought together senior technology officers from key industry stakeholders to find innovative and intelligent solutions to better deliver mail.
  
   
• 69. 

  Currently about 30% of online shoppers in the UK indicate they buy goods from foreign websites (also outside Europe). The intra -EU average for on line cross border is at around 10 %. Against that background, the importance of agreeing on European and international standards and ensuring a higher degree of connectivity becomes clear, notably for SMEs and consumers who are disproportionally affected.
  
   
• 70. 

  See footnote 17.
  
   
• 71. 

  Commission Decision 2010/C217/07.
  
   
• 72. 

  For example, the promotion of best practices, partnership agreements, codes of conduct; standards for electronic data transfers, labels, address databases; developing a European delivery label.
  
   
• 73. 

  At present, standardisation issues are dealt with in the CEN Technical Committee for postal services, and interoperability issues among some postal operators are handled by the European Parcel Group.
  
   
• 74. 

  The internet economy has brought about 21% of the growth in GDP in the last five years. It also generates 2.6 jobs for every job cut and at times accounts for 25% of net employment creation (COM (2011) 942 final).
  
   
• 75. 

  'A coherent framework for building trust in the Digital Single Market for e-commerce and online services', COM (2011) 942 final.
  
   
• 76. 

  Council of the EU, Conclusions on the Digital Single Market and Governance of the Single Market, 31 May 2012; Resolution (P7_TA82010)0320) of 21 September 2010 on completing the internal market for e-commerce.
  
   
• 77. 

  42 % of online businesses in UK prioritize improved delivery services compared to 18% for investment in faster broadband.
  
   
• 78. 

  In short, any small items and goods that can be handled by one person.
  
   
• 79. 

  66% of all 'cart abandonments' are due to delivery factors, 2011 consumer trends in multi-channel retailing, by Royal Mail.
  
   
• 80. 

  According to estimates from FTI Consulting, small retailers account for 22% of cross-border e-commerce volumes. Eurostat estimates that over a quarter of all enterprises send e-commerce orders to other EU countries: of these, 23% are small enterprises, 41% are large and 33% are medium enterprises.
  
   
• 81. 

  A study carried out by Civic Consulting estimates that the EU is missing out on the potential of e-commerce: the total welfare gains for EU consumers from a hypothetical situation where the share of e-commerce in total retailing would be 15% (instead of the 2010 level of 3.5%) is estimated to amount to 204.5 billion Euros per year or 1.7% of EU GDP.
  
   
• 82. 

  'Focus on the Future' by BCG, May 2012; IMRG; ACSEL; 'Intra-community cross-border parcel delivery', FTI 2011; Set of national On line barometers by E-bay; 'The evolution of the European Postal market since 1997', ITA/ WIK 2009; IPC Cross border E-commerce report 2010, Eurobarometer, 'Consumer market study on the functioning of e-commerce and Internet marketing and selling techniques in the retail of goods', Civic 2011.
  
   
• 83. 

  Eurobarometer, Business attitude Towards cross-border sales and consumer protection, Analytical report, Flash Eurobarometer 224, July 2008, Chapter 2, section 2.1, page 21.
  
   
• 84. 

  'Consumer market study on the functioning of e-commerce and Internet marketing and selling techniques in the retail of goods', Civic Consulting, September 2011, pages 132, 40.
  
   
• 85. 

  A recent UK survey indicates that almost 65% of the respondents mentioned that the risk of failed delivery (due to no-one at home to receive the item) would prevent them from shopping online. Too vague timeslots and the risk that the item may not arrive on time are also a concern for about 43% of the respondents ("A study of online fulfilment requirements", IMRG UK Consumer Home Delivery Review 2012).
  
   
• 86. 

  Communication "Small Business, Big World
   
• 87. 

  E-commerce in the Nordics 2012, Postnord.
  
   
• 88. 

  Different models are in place for cross border shipments notably via co-operation between national postal services, via direct injection into the national postal system or via other agreements with logistic operators.
  
   
• 89. 

  In the EU-27 only 9% of EU consumers and
   
• 90. 

  The total sales of products for which demand is low or whose sales volume is low can equal or exceed the market shares of best-selling products if sellers can offer a wider choice.
  
   
• 91. 

  For example, 57% of retailers consider cross-border delivery an obstacle (Flash Eurobarometer 224, July 2008). 78% of eBay sellers identify delivery costs as the main obstacle to cross-border e-commerce, 42% refer to bad quality of delivery services (FreshMinds, Crossborder trade survey in the UK, Germany and France).
  
   
• 92. 

  In a survey in the UK, free delivery was the most-cited factor by 67% of respondents for making them continuing or increase their usage of an e-retailer (Delivery Matters, 2011 Consumer Trends in multi-channel retailing _Royal Mail).
  
   
• 93. 

  ITA/WIK 2009. These figures refer to 2008 and include parcel and express market. Another study from IPC indicates the value of the EU CEP market in 2008 to be
   
• 94. 

  In the Postal Directive (Directive 97/67/EC, as amended by Directives 2002/39/EC and 2008/6/EC), items of correspondence or documents up to 2 kg are considered as letter, goods up to 20 kg are considered to be parcels.
  
   
• 95. 

  Eurostat (Isoc_ec_ebuyn2) Fig 11.
  
   
• 96. 

  Universal Service
   
• 97. 

  See Chapter 4 for more information on the Postal Services Directive.
  
   
• 98. 

  And notably for consumers and SMEs: the lack of a low cost option for packets (below 2 kg); service features such as track and trace options exist but may be offered only in combination with higher added value features.
  
   
• 99. 

  Third party logistics provide assistance to customers for outsourced services for part, or all of their logistics (such as, pick and pack, warehousing, documentation, labelling procedures and distribution). Online brokers and parcel consolidators offer discounts on single shipments by integrators, or national operators.
  
   
• 100. 

  Volumes estimations and capacity planning, time schedules where volumes, routes as well as consumer expectations have to be taken into account.
  
   
• 101. 

  A survey by IRMG for their UK Consumer Home Delivery Review 2012, showed that 85% of the respondents listed access to online tracking information as the single most important way to make deliveries more convenient ("IRMG UK Consumer Home Delivery Review 2012
   
• 102. 

  FTI (2011); Civic Consulting (2011); Mystery Shopping Evaluation of Cross-Border e-commerce in the EU (2009).
  
   
• 103. 

  Postal operators delivering their priority parcel products through the European Parcel Group's integrated delivery network benefit from a track-and-trace system and an automated customer service system linking each postal
   
• 104. 

  A number of surveys have been undertaken to identify the needs of consumers vis-à-vis the delivery of goods ordered on line. For example, 'Home delivery in the UK 2011' by Snow Valley, IPC Cross border E-commerce report 2010; IRMG (2012), CIVIC (2011).
  
   
• 105. 

  A study on consumer experiences with online shopping shows that the majority of problems consumers experience when buying goods concern delivery: long delivery times (28% of consumers reporting a problem), damaged product delivered (20%), non-delivery (17%), wrong product delivered (14%), and delivery costs or final price was higher than displayed on website (7%).
  
   
• 106. 

  IPC Cross border e-commerce report.
  
   
• 107. 

  The 2011 online retail delivery report, Snow Valley.
  
   
• 108. 

  Consumer Focus.
  
   
• 109. 

  More and more UK consumers would like to receive a text to confirm information on delivery status: 80% of online shoppers say they like to receive updates at every stage of the delivery, Delivery matters, 2011.
  
   
• 110. 

  IPC Cross border E-commerce report 2010.
  
   
• 111. 

  Top 2 barriers to cross border shipping in France are the high cost of shipping (78%) and poor shipping services (42%), compared to 28% for lack of demand, or 12% for cultural differences (eBay report).
  
   
• 112. 

  Including the costs for renewing the fleet in order to keep it updated to meet environmental standards.
  
   
• 113. 

  As in the demonstration action DiSCwise, (www.discwise.eu/).
  
   
• 114. 

  Directive 97/67/EC, as amended by Directives 2002/39/EC and 2008/6/EC.
  
   
• 115. 

  Only 36% of the parcel market is held by universal service providers; and of those 36% only a small amount fall under the universal service obligations. The minimum requirements in the Postal Directive entail the provision of over the counter or basic parcel services. Minimum universal service obligations are spelled out in article 3 of the Directive but Member States can go beyond these requirements.
  
   
• 116. 

  COM (2011) 635final 11.10.2011.
  
   
• 117. 

  Commission proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC (Directive on consumer ADR), COM(2011) 793 final adopted on 29 November 2011.
  
   
• 118. 

  Article 19 of the Postal Directive calls upon Member States to encourage the development of independent out-of-court schemes for the resolution of disputes.
  
   
• 119. 

  Directive 2006/123/EC.
  
   
• 120. 

  ec.europa.eu/internal_market/services/docs
  
   
• 121. 

  EC-White Paper: Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area, COM(2011) 144 final and the e-Freight initiative: ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/planned_ia/docs
  
   
• 122. 

  For example, Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, OJ L 152, 11 June 2008 provides for a regulatory framework in relation to air quality objectives in the EU.
  
   
• 123. 

  As laid down in Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93 and Directive 2001/95/EC on general product safety.
  
   
• 124. 

  More on the scope of VAT exemption in the postal sector: see the preliminary ruling of the CJEU in case C-357/07, The Queen, on the application of TNT Post UK Ltd v The Commissioners for Her
   
• 125. 

  For example, point 19 of Article 2 of the Postal Services Directive identifies compliance with the terms and conditions of employment as one of the possible essential requirements for the postal service providers when applying for the authorization.
  
   
• 126. 

  Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of the Council of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code, OJ L 302, 19.10.1992.
  
   
• 127. 

  Please note that your replies to the subsequent questions should at any rate be based on the definition as set out in the Green
   
• 128. 

  47% of consumers indicate that the lack of delivery convenience may prevent them from shopping online (Consumer Focus research on consumer needs, November 2010).
  
   
• 129. 

  In addition to the requirements in EU consumer legislation that oblige traders to provide clear and transparent information to consumers, notably their rights to withdraw from distance contracts.
  
   
• 130. 

  In addition to the information requirements in the EU consumer legislation and the Services and the E-commerce Directives (2006/123/EC and 2000/31/EC).
  
   
• 131. 

  See Article 19 of the Postal Service Directive establishing transparent complaint procedures, mediation services and alternative dispute resolution systems.
  
   
• 132. 

  On the specific subject of multimodal liability, the Commission is awaiting the outcome of the ratification process of the Rotterdam Rules by Member States.
  
   
• 133. 

  For cost allocation purposes, 'weight, insurance levels and speed' are not necessarily cost drivers which are associated with all postal activities (collection, transport, sorting and delivery). Additionally, the allocation of common costs to the various postal products usually involves the use of a general allocator (such as EPMU
   
• 134. 

  E.g. an increased level of harmonisation of delivery process, efficiency gains, consolidation and sharing facilities at local logistic hubs. See also e-Freight initiative: ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/planned_ia/docs
  
   
• 135. 

  See Chapter 4 on the current regulatory framework.
  
   
• 136. 

  FTI, CIVIC (2011), Eurobarometer, Accenture 'European cross border e-commerce' (2011), YouGov Psychonomics 'Mystery Shopping Evaluation of Cross-Border e-commerce in the EU' (2009). YouGov Psychonomics reports that the delivery price charged by e-commerce and distant vendors to consumers is on average twice as high for cross-border than for domestic deliveries: the average cost of shipping for domestic offers was
   
• 137. 

  Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme, Digital Convergence Operational Programme, or other initiatives to develop specific technologies, such as, the use of Radio Frequency Identification Data.
  
   
• 138. 

  On the one hand, there are differences between domestic and cross-border IT platforms, which may even differ for those delivery operators which have a cross-border presence in the EU. On the other hand, there is information which could be shared between e-retailers and delivery operators so as to improve capacity planning on both sides. For example, e-retailers have the data regarding the products bought online and know when and how much will be put in the delivery pipeline. As for returns, it could be useful for e-retailers to be informed about the volume and time of returns in real-time, which would allow for proactive customer care and for effective stock management.
  
   
• 139. 

  The DiSCwise project (www.discwise.eu/), funded by DG ENTR, aims to get stakeholders more connected, by assisting their integration into efficient co-modal supply chains. It allows transport
   
• 140. 

  Ideally, those platforms would streamline delivery for e-commerce, integrate logistic services with shared information systems, improve coordination, and use a common or agreed carrier for delivery (limiting environmental impact and facilitate handling of returns and management of stocks).
  
   
• 141. 

  An example of such a task force was the former US Mailing Industry Task Force which was created in the 90's and brought together senior technology officers from key industry stakeholders to find innovative and intelligent solutions to better deliver mail.
  
   
• 142. 

  Currently about 30% of online shoppers in the UK indicate they buy goods from foreign websites (also outside Europe). The intra -EU average for on line cross border is at around 10 %. Against that background, the importance of agreeing on European and international standards and ensuring a higher degree of connectivity becomes clear, notably for SMEs and consumers who are disproportionally affected.
  
   
• 143. 

  See footnote 17.
  
   
• 144. 

  Commission Decision 2010/C217/07.
  
   
• 145. 

  For example, the promotion of best practices, partnership agreements, codes of conduct; standards for electronic data transfers, labels, address databases; developing a European delivery label.
  
   
• 146. 

  At present, standardisation issues are dealt with in the CEN Technical Committee for postal services, and interoperability issues among some postal operators are handled by the European Parcel
   
• 147. 

  De Europese Commissie kent nummers toe aan officiële documenten van de Europese Unie. De Commissie maakt onderscheid in een aantal typen documenten door middel van het toekennen van verschillende nummerseries. Het onderscheid is gebaseerd op het soort document en/of de instelling van de Unie van wie het document afkomstig is.
   
• 148. 

  De Raad van de Europese Unie kent aan wetgevingsdossiers een uniek toe. Dit nummer bestaat uit een vijfcijferig volgnummer gevolgd door een schuine streep met de laatste twee cijfers van het jaartal, bijvoorbeeld 12345/00 - een document met nummer 12345 uit het jaar 2000.
   
• 149. 

  Het interinstitutionele nummer is een nummerreeks die binnen de Europese Unie toegekend wordt aan voorstellen voor regelgeving van de Europese Commissie.
  Binnen de Europese Unie worden nog een aantal andere nummerseries gebruikt. Iedere instelling heeft één of meerdere sets documenten met ieder een eigen nummering. Die reeksen komen niet overeen met elkaar of het interinstitutioneel nummer.
   
• 150. 

  Deze databank van de Europese Unie biedt de mogelijkheid de actuele werkzaamheden (workflow) van de Europese instellingen (Europees Parlement, Raad, ESC, Comité van de Regio's, Europese Centrale Bank, Hof van Justitie enz.) te volgen. EURlex volgt alle voorstellen (zoals wetgevende en begrotingsdossiers) en mededelingen van de Commissie, vanaf het moment dat ze aan de Raad of het Europees Parlement worden voorgelegd.
   
• 151. 

  Als dag van bekendmaking van een Europees besluit geldt de dag waarop het besluit in het Publicatieblad wordt bekendgemaakt, en daardoor in alle officiële talen van de Europese Unie bij het Publicatiebureau beschikbaar is.