A method for the emulsion polymerization of one or more olefins by reacting a ligand of general formulae Ia and Ib or a mixture of at least two ligands Ia or Ib, wherein R respectively represents one or several of the following radicals; hydrogen, halogen, nitrile, C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl groups, C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkoxy groups, C.sub.7-C.sub.13-aralkyl groups, C6-C14-aryl groups, and wherein identical or different compounds of general formulae Ia and Ib can, optionally, be concatenated by one or several bridges, with a phosphine compound PR3' and a metal compound of general formula M(L.sup.2).sub.2 or M(L.sup.2).sub.2 (L.sup.1).sub.z, wherein the variables are defined as follows: M is a transition metal of groups 7-10 in the periodic system of the elements; L.sup.1 represents phosphanes (R.sup.5).sub.xPH.sub.3-x or amines (R.sup.5).sub.xNH.sub.3-x with identical or different radicals R.sup.5, ether (R.sup.5).sub.2O, H.sub.2O, alkohols (R.sup.5)OH, pyridine, pyridine derivatives of formula C.sub.5H.sub.5-x(R.sup.5).sub.xN, CO, C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkylnitriles, C.sub.6-C.sub.14-arylnitriles or ethylenically unsaturated double bond systems, wherein x is a whole number ranging from 0-3, L.sup.2 represents halogenide ions R.sup.6.sub.xNH.sub.3-x, wherein x is a whole number ranging from 0 3 and R.sup.6 represents C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl, and C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkylane ions, allylane ions, benzylane ions or arylane ions, wherein L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 can be concatenated with each other by one or several covalent bonds, z is a number ranging from 0 4. The invention also relates to the immediate use of the reaction product in the polymerization or copolymerization of olefins in water or in a solvent mixture containing at least 50 vol. % water in the presence of an emulsifier and, optionally, in the presence of an activator. ##STR00001##