Comecon
1949–1991
The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) was founded in reaction to the allure of the Marshall Plan to the Soviet satellites in Eastern Europe. While very loosely organized and dominated by the Soviets in its early years, COMECON would ultimately fulfill the role of trade liberalization and industrial rationalization for Eastern Europe.
Time: Early War
Side: USSR
Ops: 3
Removed after event: Yes
As USSR
About this event’s only use is the Turn 1 Comecon Trap. As described here, a proper opening setup + headline of Comecon combo allows a AR1 realignment of both West Germany and Italy at +1. It’s risky and prone to US counterplay in Austria, but with a little bit of luck can eliminate the US from continental Europe entirely.
Aside from this edge case, I always play Comecon for Ops. The 4 influence is so scattered and usually so irrelevant that I have never seen any competent USSR player play this for the event. It’s still nice to have around in the Late War if you come under Chernobyl in Europe, but it’s no Warsaw Pact.
When the US plays it, my targets for influence, in descending order, are: Poland, East Germany, Yugoslavia (assuming I opened with 4 EGER / 4 POL / 1 YUG), and Czechoslovakia (to defend against eventual Tear Down This Wall realignments). But it’s mostly moot, since this influence will probably get De-Stalinized anyway.
As US
This is basically a free 3 Ops card. I suppose you could hold off on playing this until after De-Stalinization, but harmless 3 Ops cards are hard to come by as US in the Early War.
The one interaction of note is with Eastern European Unrest. Against a greedy USSR player who does not overprotect East Germany and Poland, you might consider headlining Eastern European Unrest and threaten a costly Europe Scoring. This play does not work if you play Comecon first.
Twilight Strategy 
Wouldn’t the trap be 3 Austria and 2 Yugoslavia?
You need an extra influence in Austria because otherwise the US can set up with 1 influence there too.
Amusing idea: 3 Austria, 2 Yugoslavia, 1 Poland setup. US might respond with 1 Austria, 2 Italy, 4 West Germany. Headline Socialist Governments? Just like any weird Europe opening, the problem is that taking control of Italy on AR1 without couping just isn’t that good.
Yeah, but a Socialist Governments headline (2 from Italy, one from Austria) in this situation would leave US without adjacency to Italy. Coup Iran on AR1, take Italy on AR2. Of course, Marshall Plan will wreck the gambit, so… yeah, very situational, and Europe will likely be a shambles for the rest of the game, but hey, it’ll be fun!
US can defend against Comecon Trap by the following ways:
-> Marshall Plan
-> Setup 4GER, 2ITA, 1AUT
-> Defectors
-> Duck and Cover
-> CIA Created
-> Anti-Comecon Setup: 1GER, 3FRA, 3ITA
This is why I do not set up for Comecon Trap.
Don’t forget East European Unrest.
I tried the COMECON trap opening for the first time and managed to remove my opponent from West Germany and Italy with one roll each. I was also able to get him completely out of Iran. This is going to be a good game.