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De Post / La Poste / Die Post is the Belgian organization responsible for the delivery of mail, national and international. The Belgian Post Group is one of the largest civilian employers in Belgium. Today it provides a range of postal, courier, direct marketing, banking, insurance and electronic services in a highly competitive European market.

[edit] Recent Changes

In January 2006, Post Danmark and CVC Capital Partners signed an agreement with the Belgian Government on the acquisition of 50% minus one share in the Belgian Post for €300 million. Post Danmark had been selected by the Belgian Government a partner because it would assist De Post-La Poste in modernizing the company. The Belgian Government, De Post-La Poste, Post Danmark and CVC have prepared a joint plan for developing the Belgian Post over the coming years. The target is for De Post-La Poste to be among the leading and most efficient postal services in Europe.

[edit] Legal aspects

By Royal Decree of 17 March 2000, La Poste cast off its status of autonomous public enterprise to adopt the status of a public limited liability company. Its public service missions are all described that it concluded with the Belgian State.

[edit] A Personal Experience

Having lived throughout Europe, in the British Isles and eastern Europe, we came to Brussels last year to work at a major international institution. Having got used to doing a lot of online shopping for books and music in the average month we have a regular number of small parcels. We were quite amazed when after a couple of months living here none of our recent purchases had arrived. Only by coincidence one day we stayed at home and found the postman actually jamming an item into the box without even bothering to ring the bell. We pointed out that an item that could be pulled out by any passerby was not delivered. He just shrugged his shoulders and said it was! Since then we have on occasion had cards put through the door (as would be the case in any other European country) asking us to collect our item from the local office. When we have done this the average waiting time has been one hour (and this at a post office within one kilometer of Berlaymont). Locals confirm that waiting times are always excessive. No number you can call and ask for a redelivery is given. Our experience would suggest that La Poste certainly does not provide a modern efficient postal service and, indeed, that the state-run postal services of several eastern Europe countries or the UK are more efficient and customer friendly.

[edit] External links

• De Post / La Poste / Die Post