I am perplexed, as I am sure other readers are, by Ian Smith's letter (BFP 1/5/09). He indicates that the EU Directive EU/67/EC and 2002/39/EC are related to the post office closures. I am sure everyone else knows it has nothing to do with the Post Office network, but relates to postal services delivered by the Royal Mail. The Royal Mail, the Regulator Postcomm, and the consumer watchdog Postwatch all support these measures so what is Ian's problem with them? These Directive set out to create common postal standards across Europe and opens up the current monopoly the Royal Mail has in the UK. Despite losing their monopoly the Royal Mail still support it.