1. A method for determining an applicable policy for an incoming message comprising a service-level addressing element, comprising the steps of: a) applying a potentially applicable policy to the incoming message to make the service-level addressing element of the incoming message accessible, b) if the service-level addressing element of the incoming message becomes accessible and is a service-level addressing element to which the currently applied policy is associated, determining the currently applied policy as applicable policy, and c) if not associated repeating steps a) and b) with a further potentially applicable policy.