Det store antal meget forskelligartede fusioner med fællesskabsdimension og ikke mindst den kraftige stigning i antallet af grænseoverskridende fusioner (36 % flere end i 1996) mellem virksomheder fra forskellige medlemsstater vidner om, at den økonomiske integration inden for Den Europæiske Union har taget yderligere fart i 1997.
The number and variety of mergers with a Community dimension, but above all the substantial increase in cross-border mergers (up 36 % on 1996)concerning European companies from more than one Member State, reflect an increased momentumtowards economic integration within the European Union this year.