With reference to Giles Goodall's letter entitled "Ten things the EU has done for us" (Letters, January 31), he didn't mention the EU directive 2002/39/EC which is responsible for the closure of post offices in this country.

Many people will have heard reports of these closures in the news.

The fact which has been largely neglected by the media is that they are caused by laws coming from the EU.

Article 88 of the Amsterdam Treaty demands the Government seeks permission from the EU Commission to decide what state aid for postal services is allowed.

EU directive 2002/39/EC states that the size of the postal market reserved for national monopoly must be reduced and that the Government must seek permission before any state aid is granted.

As a result of this, in 2003 the Government signed away the Royal Mail's ability to control its financial affairs and a deal was struck which allowed the Government to grant £150 million to the Post Office each year for three years.

However, the cost of running the postal service is £208 million a year, which means there is a £58 million deficit each year.

After three years, the Government does not have permission to increase the grant. As a result, the debt is increasing and matters will only get worse as inflation rises.

At the same time as this, EU directive 97/67/EC allows the privately run German Post Office to operate in the UK and also imposes the new regulations on sizing and weights of post.

As a result, the Royal Mail can no longer afford to deliver packages which it previously dealt with, driving the delivery of larger items into the hands of the German post office.

The result of the EU directives is the private contractors will be able to cherry pick the best routes and rural post offices will be axed.

S Corderoy
Church Walk, Worthing