150 YEARS OF THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION

Established in 1874, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), with its headquarters in Bern, Switzerland, is the second oldest international organisation. With its 192 member countries, the UPU is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players. It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services. In this way, the organisation fulfils an advisory, mediating and liaison role, and provides technical assistance where needed. It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel and financial services volumes and improve quality of service for customers. The UPU consists of four bodies: the Congress, which is the supreme authority of the Union and meets every four years; the Council of Administration, which supervises activities; the Postal Operations Council, which is the technical and operational mind of the Union; and the International Bureau, which fulfils a secretariat function. In the time of globalisation, the Union’s objective of achieving a global single postal territory becomes all the more relevant.