@article{gruyters2021‘wait author = {Joris Gruyters and Lennard Michaux}, title = {‘Wait a Minute, Mr Postman’: On Universal Service, the Postal Services Directive and the SGEI Framework · Joined Cases C-431/19 P and C-432/19 P Inpost · Annotation by Joris Gruyters and Lennard Michaux}, journal = {European State Aid Law Quarterly}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, year = {2021}, keywords = {universal service obligation;SGEI framework;postal sector;transparency requirements;SGEI}, abstract = {On 17 December 2020, the Court of Justice brought an end to the Inpost saga, following the compatibility assessment by the Commission – and the subsequent appeal before the General Court – of an aid scheme for universal service obligations in the postal sector. Together, these decisions and judgments provide the opportunity to reflect on three more general issues of State aid law. First, the acceptable calculation method of ‘an unfair financial burden’ should be highlighted, a key notion in the Postal Services Directive. Second, the rules of interaction between non-State aid provisions of EU law and the aid analysis will be revisited. Third, and finally, the connection between the transparency requirements of the SGEI Framework and the public service inquiry has to be clarified.}, url = {https://doi.org/10.21552/estal/2021/2/13} doi = {10.21552/estal/2021/2/13} }