Universal service in Portugal comprises a postal service, of a national and international scope, for postal items, excluding direct mail, and also for catalogues, books, newspapers and other periodicals up to 2 Kg, as well as services for registered items and insured items - see art 12 (1) of Law 17/2012 . The scope of the reserved area is  only the registered mail service used in court or administrative proceedings and Correios de Portugal S.A. is a provider of universal services until 2020 - see article 57 (1) and (3) of Law 17/2012.Directive 97/67/EC with regard to the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services as last amended by Directive 2008/6/EC, Article 7(1), establishes that Member States shall not grant or maintain in force exclusive or special rights for the establishment and provision of postal services.