EAU History

In 1972, Professor Georgio Ravasini, holder of the chair of Urology at Padua, brought together 10 well-known European urologists to discuss the establishment of a European urological society.

In 1973, the Constituent Assembly took place in Amsterdam on the occasion of the International Urology Congress. The European Association of Urology became fact! It would establish its headquarters permanently in Switzerland because of its neutrality. The Association welcomed 259 proposed members.

In September 1974, the first EAU congress was held in Padua, Italy and was chaired by Prof. G. Ravasini. Subsequently, European Congresses were held every two years until 1997. Afterwards, the General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to hold the congress annually, starting with the congress in Barcelona in 1998.

At the first congress, the EAU announced that the Association's scientific journal had been launched under the title European Urology. The first issue was published on 1 January 1975. 

By now, the EAU has developed into a modern and professionally-run scientific organisation, representing over 16,000 urologists, urologists-in-training and urological scientists form the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural mountains. The EAU is the leading European urological organisation in the fields of science, education and publications.

Since the first Steering Committee in 1972, eminent urologists have been Secretary-General of the European Association of Urology.