On December 4/5, 1978 the heads of states and governments of the EC-member states are meeting in order to take decisions on the new European Monetary System agreed on at their Bremen summit. The problems of monetary integration in Europe are discussed in this article.

European Economic and Monetary Union is currently in the course of preparation by an inter-governmental conference. What are the benefits and risks associated with European monetary union? What essential requirements need to be fulfilled when the agreements are concluded?

In the debate about the world monetary order there is agreement that greater stability in international currency relationships would be desirable. Could a system of fixed exchange rates between the currencies of the major industrial countries put an end to the present instability? What would be...