The discrediting of the Hellenic Post (ELTA) due to the ongoing deterioration of its services, its growing structural and operational problems, as well as the impact on the provision of the universal postal service in Greece—despite more than €300 million in public funding—is highlighted in a question to the European Commission posed by PASOK MEP and Vice-President of the Party of European Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Yannis Maniatis.
As he points out in his question, despite repeated restructurings and the significant public funding that ELTA has received to fulfill its universal postal service obligation, it continues to experience serious operational problems.
Significant delays in the delivery of mail and bills, a shrinking network of post offices, and staff shortages are just some of the problems Greek citizens face.
According to official data for 2025, the average delivery time for first-priority letters and small parcels increased to 7.8 business days from 5.8 days in 2024. At the same time, only 20.4% of mail was delivered within three days, compared to 35.6% in 2024, while 42.8% of items were delivered within five days, even though the universal service obligation stipulates rates of 90% and 98%, respectively.
The PASOK Member of the European Parliament is asking the European Commission to clarify whether it has assessed Greece’s compliance with the requirements of European legislation on postal services, whether it is monitoring the effectiveness of the subsidies granted to ELTA, and whether it intends to examine the impact of the ongoing shortcomings on citizens’ equal access to essential services throughout the country.
“The universal postal service is not a luxury but a fundamental public obligation, directly linked to territorial and social cohesion,” emphasizes G. Maniatis, adding “When only one-fifth of the mail is delivered within the prescribed timeframes, the ‘Government of the Best’ must finally provide some explanations. All citizens, especially those in island and remote areas, must have equal access to basic services.”
The full text of the question follows:
Question requesting a written answer
to the Commission
Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure
Yannis Maniatis (S&D)
Subject: Structural and operational problems at the Hellenic Post (ELTA)
“According to recent reports in the Greek press, the Hellenic Post (ELTA), despite repeated restructurings and the significant public funding it has received to provide the universal postal service in Greece, is now facing insurmountable structural and operational problems.
There are documented reports of tragic delays in the delivery of mail and utility bills, post office closures, a shrinking network, and staff shortages, while at the same time it is reported that even administrative staff have been asked to volunteer to help with parcel delivery.
Given that the universal postal service is an obligation under EU law and is critical for territorial and social cohesion, particularly in remote and island regions, the Commission is asked:
- Has it assessed whether the provision of the universal postal service in Greece through ELTA complies with the requirements of the relevant Directive 2008/6/EC on the full implementation of the internal market for Community postal services?
- Does it monitor the effectiveness of European and national subsidies or compensation granted for the provision of this universal service, which, according to estimates, have exceeded 300 million euros over the past decade?
- Does it intend to examine whether the ongoing shortcomings in the quality and reliability of ELTA’s postal services are affecting Greek citizens’ rights to equal access to essential services throughout the country?”