An electromechanical brake, in particular for vehicles, has an electric actuator which generates an actuation force and acts on at least one frictional element so as to press the latter, in order to bring about a frictional force, against a rotatable component of the brake which is to be braked. In order to keep the actuation force to be applied by the actuator low, there is, between the component to be braked and the electric actuator, an arrangement which brings about the self-energization of the actuation force generated by the electric actuator. In the event of a deviation between the setpoint value and the actual value, a device for comparing a setpoint value of the frictional force with the actual value of the frictional force controls the electric actuator, in order to correspondingly increase or decrease the generated actuation force, with the result that the actual value is approximated to the setpoint value of the frictional force. Fluctuations in the coefficient of friction thus do not have a disruptive effect.