The creation of the European Economic Community and the gradual achievement of a Common Market in connection with this Community raises not only economic but numerous legal problems as weIl. In fact, the Treaty of Rome and the various regulations, directives and de cisions enacted for its implementation are bringing into being a new legal system which has a great influence not only within the frontiers of the Community but also on all European States which are in eco nomic contact with the Community and indeed on the entire world. This applies particularly to the provisions on the laws of competition laid down by the Treaty and its implementing regulations. These provisions must be known and taken into consideration not only by Common Market enterprises but also by large firms outside the Community. The very comprehensive literature on the European Economic Community has therefore laid special stress on this subject. The large number of commentaries published in the various languages of the Community on the Rules of Competition indicates the great interest taken not only by the commercial world but also by the world of jurisprudence.

Integration of the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) into the European Union (EU) has become more a question of timing than a question whether it will or should be made. Since one of the objectives of the EU is to establish a system ensuring competition in the internal market is not distorted the question arises if the CEECs can be integrated into such a competitive system. Which rules of competition are appropriate to improve the economic integration of the CEECs and to promote at the same time the enduring transition process? The relationship between competition policy and East-West integration is the general theme of the contributions in this book. One central issue of this volume is the way of integrating the Central and East European countries into the EU and supporting their development by liberalizing trade with the EU. A second issue is the implementation of a market economy in the post-socialist countries of Eastern Europe and in particular the aspect of implementing competition rules at a time when markets are just emerging. The twelve selected papers are organized in three sections: -Competition Policy and Integration (part 1); -Competition Policy During Transition (part 2); -Competition, Trade Policy and East-West-Integration (part 3).