Book Review: Smyrnova, EU Competition Law (2013)

Stefan Kirchner


Kseniya Smyrnova EU Competition Law Textbook with schemes & case
studies, 1
st
ed., Feniks, Odesa (2013), 143 pp., ISBN 978-966-438-667-5.

A textbook on EU law from a non-EU country might rarely be the object of a
review which aims to introduce that book to a readership in EU countries. This
unassuming book, though, deserves attention because it delivers more than it
promises.
The author teaches at Ukraines leading law faculty and has written this textbook
with her students in mind. If you are looking for an in-depth monograph, one
might be disappointed by the slim volume but for students who wish to learn not
only the key concepts but get a real understanding of EU competition law the
book is ideal. In addition to providing the required information the book includes
a number of case studies. These case studies provide the reader with a chance to
gain not only a theoretical understanding but with a insight into the application of
what has just been learned. Both in the selection of topics concerned and
additional information provided as well as in the approach found throughout the
book it can be seen that this book has been written not just with student readers
in mind but specically, as the author writes, for students.
In terms of content the book covers all key issues which might be expected in
such a book. In terms of didactical approach the book clearly benets from the
authors scientic knowledge but arguably even more from her didactical skills.
The author managed to provide knowledge and to translate didactic skills from
the classroom to paper. In doing so, the author has created an introductory
textbook which remains accessible for beginners. The book differs from many
legal textbooks by its degree of readability. The author realizes that textbooks for
students fall into a different literary category than monographs or articles, without
oversimplifying matters, allowing for a wholehearted endorsement of this
textbook.