In order to achieve high standards of both patient care and scientific research in the field of medicine, high quality postgraduate training programmes are indispensable. One of the endeavours of the Union of European Medical Specialists (UEMS) and the Confederation of European Specialists in Paediatrics (CESP), now called the Paediatric Section of UEMS, is to promote training programmes of equivalent quality in the various member countries throughout the European Union (EU). Because of the rapid integration of these countries, doctors can now freely practice medicine throughout the EU. It is therefore of prime importance for the maintenance of standards of patient care that specialist doctors should receive equivalent training in each member countries.