The enlargement of the European Union is just around the corner. The fundamental question of this accession is to what extent integration in Europe can be advanced by harmonizing individual policy areas and to what extent competition between individual national systems should be allowed.

The negotiating strategy to date between the EU and the accession candidates promotes harmonization in a one-dimensional way. The accession states must unilaterally adopt the acquis communautaire. Is this the optimal method for all areas of integration? Where is systemic competition possible and necessary, where should it be limited in favor of uniform rules, where is harmonization abused to exclude competition for reasons of vested interests?

The anthology “Europe between Competition and Harmonization” tries to find the answer to these fundamental questions from the perspective of political science, economics and law by developing analyses, impact processes and solution approaches to this dilemma by renowned experts.