A global panel discussion hosted by PUASP (Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal), themed around the prospective opening of the UPU (Universal Postal Union) for all interested parties from the postal industry, took place in an online format on February 24 and 25, 2021.

This is currently one of the hottest topics in the UPU, right before its 27^th Congress, postponed due to the pandemic for August 2021, when several important decisions are expected to be made.

Some 150 participants including PUASP member countries, as well as representatives of other regional organizations from the global postal system, such as the Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU), Pan African Postal Union (PAPU), Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC, ex Soviet Union countries), Posteurop and European Committee for Postal Regulation (CERP) took part in the discussion.

In a separate meeting session, candidates for the position of Director General of the UPU International Bureau: Pascal Clivaz from Switzerland, Masahiko Metoki from Japan and Jack Hamande from Belgium presented their vision of the global postal industry.

The CERP delegation made a presentation about a European perspective on the future of postal services.

This topic was deemed crucial for the relevance, future and sustainable development of the UPU and it was agreed that International Bureau should continue, in cooperation with regional organizations, to coordinate activities for the preparation of the most suitable solution to be verified at the next Congress.

Dr Nikola Trubint, Head of the Postal Service Section at RATEL, who was re-elected for the position of CERP Vice-Chair, actively participated in the work of the preparatory meeting on behalf of the European countries.