A functioning basic postal service is a key factor in the quality of life of the population, national cohesion and the attractiveness of Liechtenstein as a business location. For this reason, the Government’s objective is to ensure, through the universal service, a comprehensive, accessible and affordable basic service of high quality for all.

Minimum service

Maintaining the universal service with a minimum level of postal services is of particular importance, even in a fully liberalised market. The universal service must be available to all users nationwide, on a continuous basis and to a specified standard, at affordable prices. Care must be taken to ensure that the density of collection and access points meets users’ needs and that home delivery is guaranteed on at least five days a week as a rule. In doing so, the use of specific technologies is neither prescribed nor favoured (principle of technology neutrality). The Government shall evaluate the universal service and the requirements to be imposed on a universal service provider at least every ten years.

Universal service provider

Under the transitional provision, the provision of universal services is the statutory responsibility of Liechtensteinische Post AG until the Government, taking into account the specific circumstances of the country, in particular the service requirements across the entire national territory, designates a company to provide universal services (universal service provider).

Price regulation

Universal service prices must be set in such a way that they are affordable for all users, are approximated to the costs, are transparent and non-discriminatory. Prices and price changes are approved by the regulatory authority upon a reasoned application from the universal service provider.

The universal service provider must maintain separate accounts within its internal cost accounting systems for services forming part of the universal service on the one hand, and for services not forming part of the universal service on the other. The internal cost accounting systems must be designed and operated on the basis of uniformly applied and objectively justifiable cost accounting principles. The regulatory authority may lay down the requirements for cost accounting by decision.

Decision – Setting out the requirements for a cost accounting system (in German)

The universal service provider must ensure that the auditor annually verifies that the internal cost accounting systems comply with statutory provisions and the regulatory authority’s requirements, and publishes a statement of compliance in this regard.