• The 28th Universal Postal Congress, the supreme decision-making body of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), has recently opened in Bern, Switzerland.
• The UPU, established under the Treaty of Bern in 1874, is the world’s second oldest international organization and serves as the primary forum for international postal cooperation.
• The Congress, which convenes every four years, brings together representatives from UPU’s 192 member countries to set rules for international mail exchanges, coordinate postal policies, and adopt measures to enhance global mail, parcel, and financial services.
• The governance structure of the UPU includes the Council of Administration (which supervises regulatory and administrative functions), the Postal Operations Council (technical and operational body of 48 elected members), and the International Bureau, which serves as its secretariat.
• Membership is open to all UN countries, with non-UN members eligible if supported by at least two-thirds of UPU member nations.
• The 28th Congress is expected to focus on modernizing postal networks, integrating digital and financial services, and addressing challenges posed by e-commerce and cross-border logistics.