“…For this reason, the authors have chosen to assess the performance of EaP countries in these areas not by using the 1-5 SME Policy Index scoring methodology, but rather by supplying a qualitative assessment that refers to established international benchmarks whenever applicable. 2 Besides OECD recommendations, guidelines and instruments focusing on competition policy as such (www.oecd.org/daf/competition/), competition is an integral part of other OECD policy fields and instruments -such as the Policy Framework for Investment (PFI) (OECD, 2015 [18]), the Business and Finance Outlook (OECD, 2018 [40]), the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (OECD, 2011 [41]), the Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises (OECD, 2015 [42]), the Recommendation on Regulatory Policy and Governance (OECD, 2012 [43]), the Recommendation on Competition Assessment (OECD, 2009 [44]), the Recommendation concerning Structural Separation in Regulated Industries (OECD, 2001 [45]), the Recommendation for Cooperation between Member Countries in Areas of Potential Conflict between Competition and Trade Policies (OECD, 2019 [46]), and the Trust and Business Report (OECD, 2015[47]).…”