Tenth Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union

Table of contents

Article

I. (Art. 1 amended) Scope and objectives of the Union

II. (Art. 8 amended) Restricted Unions. Special Agreements

III. (Art. 18 amended) Postal Operations Council

IV. Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union

Tenth Additional Protocol
to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union

The plenipotentiaries of the governments of the member countries of the Universal Postal Union, having met in Extraordinary Congress at Addis Ababa, in view of article 30.2 of the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union concluded at Vienna on 10 July 1964, have adopted, subject to ratification, the following amendments to that Constitution.

Article I

(Art. 1 amended)

Scope and objectives of the Union

1 The countries adopting this Constitution shall form, under the intergovernmental organization entitled the Universal Postal Union, a single postal territory for the reciprocal exchange of postal items. Freedom of transit shall be guaranteed throughout the entire territory of the Union, subject to the conditions specified in the Acts of the Union.

2 The aim of the Union shall be to secure the organization and improvement of the postal services and to promote in this sphere the development of international collaboration.

3 The Union shall take part, as far as possible, in postal technical assistance sought by its member countries.

Article II

(Art. 8 amended)

Restricted Unions. Special Agreements

1 Member countries, or their designated operators if the legislation of those member countries so permits, may establish Restricted Unions and make Special Agreements concerning the international postal service, provided always that they do not introduce provisions less favourable to the public than those provided for by the Acts to which the member countries concerned are parties.

2 Restricted Unions may send observers to Congresses, to the Council of Administration, to the Postal Operations Council, and to other conferences and meetings organized by the Union.

3 The Union may send observers to Congresses, conferences and meetings of Restricted Unions.

Article III

(Art. 18 amended)

Postal Operations Council

1 The Postal Operations Council (POC) shall be responsible for operational, commercial, technical and economic questions concerning the postal service.

2 Members of the Postal Operations Council shall carry out their functions in the name and in the interests of the Union.

Article IV

Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union

1 This Additional Protocol shall come into force on 1 July 2019 and shall remain in force for an indefinite period.

In witness whereof the plenipotentiaries of the governments of the member countries have drawn up this Additional Protocol, which shall have the same force and the same validity as if its provisions were inserted in the text of the Constitution itself, and they have signed it in a single original which shall be deposited with the Director General of the International Bureau. A copy thereof shall be delivered to each party by the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.

Done at Addis Ababa, 7 September 2018