 If it took place on the Eastern side, scientists from the communist countries could easier obtain permission to travel to the conference site.In addition, it was deemed essential to provide free (or very cheap) accommodation for participants and the low cost of attending MECO was also useful after the fall of the iron curtain, due to the resulting difficult economic situation in the Eastern part of Europe in the 90’s of the last century.In this way, the organizers of the early MECO conferences succeeded, perhaps for the first time, to bring numerous scientists, despite the political difficulties, together and to create a lively atmosphere of fruitful scientific exchange.