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Competition Policy in the European Union provides a comprehensive introduction to the European Union's policies on restrictive practices, mergers monopolies and state aid. The authors offer a wide ranging analysis of the evolution, operation and regulation of one of the EU's most important policies in a clear and accessible format

Cover -- Half Title Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Original Title Page -- Original Copyright Page -- Contents -- Editor's Preface -- Author's Preface -- 1 Origins -- 2 Regional Imbalance and Community Expansion -- 3 Internal Processes and External Relationships -- 4 Strategies for Regional Industrialisation -- 5 Retrospect and Prospect -- Bibliography -- Index

The Soviet Union, at present, is definitely ahead of the United States in the economic competition for the un committed and underdeveloped countries. The goal of Soviet economic penetration—control of total policy—poses a direct threat to American national security. The monolithic central authority of the Soviet Union provides a tactical advantage over the United States free democracy. The Soviet presidium can and does throw the entire power of the country against one target—winning the uncommitted and underdeveloped countries to communism. The United States is handicapped by its economic organization as well as by its political values. The United States has not yet learned to co-ordinate public efforts when an over-all national purpose must be served. The United States and the Soviet Union differ in their ap proaches to human values in aid to underdeveloped areas. The United States has fostered long-range improvements through teacher training, agricultural research, infant care, and so on. The Soviet Union has claimed the spotlight with huge projects—dams, hospitals, steel mills. There is no doubt that the United States possesses the capacity to compete with the Soviet Union. The United States definitely possesses ad vantages in marketing and distribution skills, in production flexibility, and in quality control. The free market system, also, is familiar to underdeveloped peoples accustomed to the bazaar atmosphere. The United States can win economically, and on her own terms, but she must possess the desire to do so.—Ed.

The competition policy pursued by the European Commission has a direct impact on the daily life of the citizens of the European Union. The reduction of telephone charges, wideraccess to air transport and the possibility of buying a car in the EU country in which prices are lowest are tangible results. Other, less visible, areas of Community competition policy also produce positive effects for the public. For example, merger control ensures a diversity of mass-market consumer goods and low prices for the final consumer. Likewise, by contributing to economic and social cohesion, the monitoring of state aid helps to promote viable and durable jobs throughout the Union. Whether they be consumers, savers, users of public services, employees or taxpayers, the Union's citizens enjoy the fruits of competition policy in the various aspects of their everyday life.

The modern industrial states desperately need more competition in order to generate growth and employment. Although the European Union pushed the member states to open several sectors to competition, there is much left to be done. At the same time powerful interest groups try to avoid or to reduce competition on European labour markets, in the health systems, in the transport and energy sector, in public services, and in many other areas. This book shows that there is much to be gained from intensifying competition and that especially consumers would benefit. One task is to lay a sound basis for the application of competition. The other task is to implement and guarantee competition. The authors try to contribute to both