ČESKOSLOVENSKO, RVHP A EVROPSKÉ SPOLEČENSTVÍ V OBDOBÍ 1957–1980
CZECHOSLOVAKIA, COMECON AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, 1957–1980

Summary/Abstract: The article aims to analyze the political and economic relations between the Council of Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON), with a special focus on Czechoslovakia, and the European Community (EC) in the period from 1957 to 1980. The author argues that the gradual deepening of integration in Western Europe led most countries, including those from the socialist block, to accept the EC poject as both economic and political reality. Czechoslovakia and other Comecon members had been rejecting to acknowledge the existence of the EC de jure since its inception, but had to reflect its existence in their trading policies toward Western Europe.The EC had acted as a magnet to the satellites of Moscow. The trade with Western Europe had been very beneficial to them as it generated much demanded hard currency revenues. Czechoslovakia and other Comecon countries differed in their interests to cooperate with the Community. More developed countries were significantly cursed by the protectionist measures applied by the Community in the trade with the planned economies, and therefore promoted softening of the ideologically motivated policy of non-recognition dictated by Moscow.

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