ABSTRACT
The Western public is mainly interested in the likely effects of the collapse of the communist systems in Eastern and Central Europe and the USSR on East-West trade with primary energy, and in the opportunities for cooperation resulting from the changes in Eastern Europe. By denying Eastern Europe increased deliveries as from 1985, and by continuous cuts in deliveries to this region afterwards, the USSR left the East European countries to their own devices. The introduction of market economy conditions will probably lead to cuts in domestic production of fossil energy carriers in Eastern Europe. The development of energy consumption is even more difficult to assess, as planned economies are squandering economies. Depending on the estimated amount of gross domestic product (GDP) of contractual for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) countries - estimates vary significantly - energy consumption per GDP unit in CMEA countries is 1.3 to 3 times higher than in Western Europe.
