The opening of the European postal market to competition is gaining ground as Member States transpose the 1997 postal directive into their national legislation and private postal companies expand their market shares. Moreover, changing regulatory trends (for example, the ever-lower weight and price limits delimitating the scope of the reserved area) encourage further growth in the continuing liberalization of this important network industry. In this informative symposium, 19 practitioners and academics expert in postal sector dynamics present detailed research findings, analysis, and recommendations. The book is based on a conference held in Brussels in February 2001, under the auspices of the Universities of Liege and Ghent and the Free University of Brussels. It provides an in-depth assessment of the challenges presented not only by the prospect of liberalization but also by the transition from the traditional monopoly system.