Comecon

• Comecon - Council for mutual economic assistance


  Established on the 25 January 1949.

  This was a direct response to the Marshall plan, used by the Soviet Union to:

  • Control economics of Eastern European states - each had a 5 year plan
  • Give soviet union access to their resources
• Comecon also worked to encourage economic specialisation within the soviet block - East Germany and Czechoslovakia told to focus on heavy industry.

  • Discourage trade with west and only trade with each other.

  Bulgaria's trade with other Comecon members increased from 10% (1930s) to 90% (1951).