An overview of EAU Congress history

1974

1st EAU Congress

12-14 September 1974
Padua, Italy

Facts & Figures

100 Participants

1st Journal

At this congress Prof. G. Mayor officially announced the constitution of European Urology as the official scientific journal of the EAU. The journal was to be published from January 1975 on.

The 1st EAU Congress took place at the Padua University Polyclinic. The new Society’s first activity was a Round Table discussion on the subject of urethral ruptures. The Second Round Table in the afternoon took up Vesical carcinoma, whilst the Third Round Table was devoted to a Post-graduate course in urology.

Prof. Willy Gregoir became the 1st EAU Secretary General

1976

2nd EAU Congress

24- 26 September 1976
Prague, Czech Republic

Facts & Figures

150 participants

First professional gathering of urologists from Western and Eastern Europe. The First Round Table discussed Lymphadenectomy in urological cancer, whilst Urogenital tuberculosis incidence in Europe was the subject in the Second Round Table discussion. Participants noted that in some countries urogenital tuberculosis had almost disappeared.

1978

3rd EAU Congress

14-16 June 1978
Monte Carlo, Monaco

Facts & Figures

400 participants
Abstracts: 100 free papers, 41 films and 23 clinical cases

For the first time seven specialised groups met to discuss the following topics: Scientific Research, Pediatrics, Lithiasias, Urodynamics, Tuberculosis and Intra-renal surgery.
The activities of the EORTC 1978 marked the first time a technical exhibition was held jointly with the congress.
A decision was taken to open the EAU to all European urologists who wished to become a member.

1980

4th EAU Congress

28-31 May 1980
Athens, Greece

Facts & Figures

600 participants
255 abstracts were submitted for the Round Tables
169 free papers, 44 films, 28 posters and around 20 clinical cases.

The congress started on Wednesday with Club meetings. The major themes were ‘New Diagnostic Methods in Urology’ and ‘Surgical Treatment of Malignant Lithiasis’. The entertainment programme included a particularly impressive “son et lumiere” display in the ruins of the ancient theatre at the foot of the Parthenon.

1982

5th EAU Congress

12-15 May, 1982
Vienna, Austria

Facts & Figures

700 Participants
413 abstracts submitted

For the first time a continuing education programme was organised in the city’s hospital for the first two days on Endoscopic Surgery, Principles of Oncological Treatment and Ultrasound in Urology.

In addition to the Clubs for Urodynamics, Pediatric Urology, Infertility and Impotence, three round tables formed the basis of the congress. Scientific topics were Renal Cell Carcinoma, microsurgery in Urology, Tumours of the Renal Pelvis.

Due to the growing volume of scientific material presented at each congress, three committees were set up; Scientific Committee (Prof. Hohenfellner), the Continuing Education Committee (Prof. Nagel) and the Film Committee (Prof. Sole Balcells)

At the end of the Congress Prof. Georges Mayor stepped down as treasurer and was replaced by Prof. Ernst Zingg from Berne. In recognition of his invaluable services to the Association, he was award the distinction of ‘Honorary Member’. The first ever in the Associations history.

1984

6th EAU Congress

23-26 May 1984
Copenhagen, Denmark

Facts & Figures

475 Participants
Chair of the Scientific Committee: Prof. John Blandy
Chair of the Film Committee: Prof. Walter De Sy
English was adopted as the sole language for future congresses

Prof. Steg

The first post graduate teaching day was held at the Rigshospital and tackled two themes: ‘Surgery of the uretero-vesical junction’ and ‘Cancer of the testicles’. The second day took place at Herlev Hospital where a presentation of ‘Urinary Incontinence’ was given and followed by a discussion on ‘Shrinkage of the urethra’. Four Club Meetings were held on Wednesday supplemented with film presentations and, for the first time, video footage. Topics discussed during the Round Table discussions were: Vesical cancer, Andrology, Prostate cancer, Recent findings in the treatment of lithiasis.

Prof. A. Steg (FR) was elected Secretary General and succeeded Prof. Gregoir.

1986

7th EAU Congress

26-28 June 1986
Budapest, Hungary

Facts & Figures

700 participants
413 abstracts submitted

Orthotopic bladder substitution

Orthotopic bladder substitution “I first started to think about orthotopic bladder substitution in 1983, when I saw the deadly complications arising from the use of continent reservoirs. Patients were unable to catheterise themselves and died overnight from septicemia. The idea of an intestinal bladder substitute was not new, it had been tried many times in urological history. What was new was the avoidance of incontinence caused by the tubular reservoirs. I tried a low-pressure reservoir which does not have high pressure spikes due to intestinal contractions. I used the principal which was developed by Dr. Goodwin for bladder augmentation procedures,” said Studer. “The results from animal studies were presented for the first time at the Annual EAU Congress in Budapest in 1986, which resulted in a great deal of opposition. I was glad to get out of the audience alive!” said Studer. “The first paper on the subject which was submitted to the Journal of Urology was rejected because the reviewers said it was nothing new. As it turned out, one of the reviewers presented his own ‘new’ technique a few months later,” added Studer with an amused look.

1988

8th EAU Congress

18-21 May 1988
London, United Kingdom

Facts & Figures

500 participants
More than 500 abstracts submitted

Willy Gregoir Medal

Mr. Harold Hopkins (GB) received the first Willy Gregoir Medal. The medal’s design was based on a profile sketch made by Prof. John Blandy.

A great deal of the discussion focused on vesicoureteral reflux in pediatric urology. For the first time a debate was held on the treatment of benign hypertrophia of the prostate, hyperthermia, the use of lasers and urethal prostheses.

1990

9th EAU Congress

13-16 June 1990
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Facts & figures

1,500 participants
1,500 abstracts submitted
Chair of the Scientific Committee: Prof. Tage Hald
Foundation of the EAU Historical Committee by Dr. Johan Mattelaer

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the EAU transformed itself from a small group of 400 members to an international organisation.  A large number of urologists from Central and Eastern Europe also linked up with the EAU. Prof. Frans Debruyne also invited urologists from North America, Japan, Australia and Asia. The Amsterdam congress will no doubt be remembered as one of the most successful and scientifically significant EAU congresses.  At the Amsterdam congress the EAU truly became an “open” association.

1992

10th EAU Congress

21-25 July 1992
Genoa, Italy

Facts & Figures

2,500 participants
1,200 abstracts submitted
Prof. Debruyne (NL) succeeded Prof. Steg as Secretary General.

1st EBU Exam

The first EBU Exams took place during this Congress, considered by many as ‘a milestone in European urology. ’A total of 253 urologists took the exam made up of 100 multiple-choice questions, which were translated in 8 recognised EC languages. The final figures were: 94 Italian, 21 Dutch, 34 German, 8 Greek, 6 Portugese, 21 Spanish, 5 Danish, 27 English, 37 French.

1994

11th EAU Congress

13-16 July 1994
Berlin, Germany

Facts & Figures

2,300 participants
Over 1,200 abstracts submitted

After close and continued efforts over the years, the American Urological Association (AUA) and the EAU finally launched the EAU-AUA Exchange Programme, a unique collaborative project which is actively promoted by both associations.

Congress President Reinhard Nagel:

“Due to the rapid development in the field of molecular biology in our understanding of the process of malignant transformation, of the regulation of the immune defence and in the underlying mechanisms of chemoresistance, non-invasive, conservative management is conceivable in many situations which today still require surgical treatment. I believe that some of these developments will become reality in the near future.”

1996

12th EAU Congress

1-4 September 1996
Paris, France

Facts & Figures

4,800 participants
800 papers selected for the Scientific sessions and 500 poster resentations were on display as well as a range of video presentations showing various surgical techniques.
The first time 6 ESU Courses were organised
Chair of the Scientific Committee: Prof. Laurent Boccon-Gibod
The First Crystal Matula Award was granted to Prof. Freddie Hamdy, Sheffield (GB)

At the General Assembly the new structure of the EAU with various new committees for all the new activities were approved. From that moment on the EAU grew at tremendous in terms of membership, congress participants as well as activities.

French virologist Prof. Luc Montagnier, who later received the 2008 Nobel Prize for Medicine as co-winner for his discovery of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), outlined treatment procedures in a state-of-the art lecture given during the this Congress in Paris.

1998

13th EAU Congress

21-25 March 1998
Barcelona, Spain

Facts & Figures

5,300 participants
Over 1,700 abstracts submitted
8 ESU Courses
Continuous Internet access was made available
The first time abstracts were recorded on CD

A turning point

From a biennial meeting, the EAU Congress becomes an annual event. The Opening Ceremony took place with Juan Antonio Samaranch Torelló as special guest. Samaranch Torelló, Marquess of Samaranch, served as the 7th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1980 to 2001. The organisation from that moment on is entirely in the hands of the congress Department of the EAU Central Office.

1999

14th Annual EAU Congress

Stockholm, Sweden
7-11 April 1999

Facts & Figures

6,000 participants
1,800 abstracts submitted
14 ESU Courses organized

Introduction of Viagra

“Viagra completely changed the paradigm of treatment of erectile dysfunction. Viagra was the first oral drug to treat this condition and it immediately showed an outstanding efficacy and safety profile. In addition, the discovery of Viagra opened the way to the assessment of other compounds of the same pharmacological class: PDE5 inhibitors. Soon after the discovery of Viagra, the development of Cialis and Levitra also started”, says Prof. Francesco Montorsi

P Ekman singing 1999

2000

15th Annual EAU Congress

Brussels, Belgium
12-15 April 2000

Facts & Figures

5,500 participants
1,800 abstracts submitted, 720 accepted
22 ESU Courses organised
1,500 exhibitors

The first EAU Guidelines were presented.

The 15th Annual Congress was also known as the Millennium Congress being the first major urological event in the new century.

All slides used in state-of-the-art lectures were posted almost immediately on Uroweb.

EAU map Guidelines 2000

2001

16th Annual EAU Congress

7-10 April 2001
Geneva, Switserland

Facts & Figures

5,436 participants
1,664 abstracts submitted
37 ESU Courses organised

ESUT Garden of the future

The latest innovations of Urotechnology were demonstrated by key European Urologists. Additionally delegates had the opportunity of tutor-guided hands-on to the devises.

Professor Abbou and the ‘stolen’ robot

“When the cardiac surgeon was on holiday in July of that year, I decided to ‘steal’ the department robot for a radical prostatectomy which went very successful. Since we were among the first people to use the robot – there was one other team in Germany – we did not get any training and had to learn how to use the robot on the job. However this was no problem since the robot was already used as a tool in laparoscopic surgery. After insertion of the tubes, the instruments that go through the tubes can either be used by humans or by robots. In the end the robot turned out to be pretty straightforward to use. However in the beginning many doctors said we were crazy using a robot for such a procedure; they were convinced it would not work.”

2002

17th Annual EAU Congress

Birmingham, United Kingdom
23-26 February 2002

Facts & Figures

5,136 participants
1,610 abstracts submitted
30 ESU Courses organised

Princess Ann

One of the highlights was the visit of Her RoyalHighness the Princess Royal, Ann.

UroBand

The Mannheim Uroband played at the Welcome Cocktail. In 1998 when the band was founded, all the members were urologists (senior registrars and residents) at the Department of Urology, Medical School Mannheim, University of Heidelberg (Head: Prof. Dr. Peter Alken).

2003

18th Annual EAU Congress

12-15 March 2003
Madrid, Spain

Facts & Figures

7,000 participants
2,503 abstracts submitted, 1,059 selected
30 ESU Courses organised

Premiere of the Late Breaking News sessions

The first Late Breaking News sessions presented a variety of topics, ranging from sexual function preservation and restoration to diagnostics in bladder and prostate cancer. Eleven abstracts were submitted.

Board

Since 2003 only Windows PowerPoint presentations are used during congress presentations replacing the plastic slides

2004

19th Annual EAU Congress

24-27 March 2004
Vienna, Austria

Facts & Figures

6,605 participants
2,260 abstracts submitted, 959 selected
31 ESU Courses organised

After 12 chairs Prof. Frans Debruyne resigns and Prof. Pierre Teillac is the new Secretary General of the EAU.

2005

20st Annual EAU Congress

16-19 March 2005
Istanbul, Turkey

Facts & Figures

6,500 participants
2,763 abstracts submitted, 1,126 accepted
31 ESU Courses organised

Prototype lithotripter

A lithotripter is usually not an object of culturalinterest. But model HMR3 once produced as a prototype by Dornier MedTech GMBH to disintegrate kidney stones without surgical intervention was donated to the EAU. Nowadays, a urologist cannot do without lithotripters.

Tsunami donation

The EAU Executive Committee pledged a sum of 100,000 euros to support the rebuilding of the urological department in Banda Acheh, Indonesia and to buy new instruments for hospitals damaged by the tsunami in Asia. The president of the IAU, Prof. Doddy Soebadi received the donation in Istanbul.

2006

21st Annual EAU Congress

5-8 April 2006
Paris, France

Facts & Figures

11,565 participants
2,647 abstracts submitted, 1,209 selected
34 ESU Courses organised

The 21st Annual EAU Congress in Paris marked one of the biggest surge in terms of attendance and participation in the EAU congresses, nearly doubling the attendance in 2005. Complementing this growth was the rise in the number of submitted abstracts and a wider coverage of urological topics.

Focus on best practices

Some of the major topics taken up during the plenary sessions included the contemporary management of prostate cancer, the developments of angiogenesis inhibitors for stopping tumour cell growth and the latest developments for the treatment of Lower Urinary Track Syndrome (LUTS). Panel discussions, debates and open forums and lectures focusing on prostate cancer diagnosis

exhib opening teillac BC

jerry hall

2007

22nd Annual EAU Congress

21-24 March 2007
Berlin, Germany

Facts & Figures

12,500 participants
2,400 abstracts submitted, 1,150 selected
24 ESU Courses were organized

Prof. Per-Anders Abrahamsson (SE) was elected as the new Secretary General

Prof. Per-Anders Abrahamsson (SE) was elected as the new Secretary General of the EAU and succeeds Pierre Teillac.

2008

23rd Annual EAU Congress

26-29 March 2008
Milan, Italy

Facts & Figures

13,489 participants
3,440 abstracts submitted, 1,061 accepted
25 ESU Courses organised

Smart bombs for prostate cancer

Amongst the highlights of the scientific lectures were targeted therapy or ‘smart bombs’ for prostate cancer, the growing prevalence of nosocomial urinary tract infections (NAUTI), biological markers for urological cancers and optisiming targeted therapies for metastatic renal cell carcinoma, amongst others. The various EAU Sections Offices also called for closer collaborativeprojects and stressed the need for more exchanges in best practices. Heads of the various offices expect that collaboration with other disciplines such as medical oncology and radiotherapy will be given more attention in the coming years.

Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

2009

24th Annual EAU Congress

17-21 March 2009
Stockholm, Sweden

Facts&Figures

10,848 Participants
2,318 abstracts submitted, 1,048 accepted
38 ESU Courses

First Guidelines Interactive Forum session

Clinical guidelines were not exactly a ‘hot topic’ in the 1990’s when the EAU first launched the Guidelines project. Today, the EAU takes a frontline role on the issue of guidelines creation. In Stockholm, the first Interactive Forum was a success with 235 voting participants. A number of patient scenarios were presented and the voting results were

  • The first time ESU Education in Progress was organised
  • First International day: Urology beyond Europe

2010

25th Anniversary Congress

16-20 April 2010
Barcelona, Spain

Fact & Figures

10.660 registered participants
3,800 abstract submitted, 1054 accepted
38 ESU Courses organised
25th Anniversary EAU Congress

Live’ webcasts attract high visitors numbers

For the first time high visitor numbers were registered or viewed the live webcasts at the EAU’s www.uroweb.org. Recordings of the plenary sessions, debates, lectures, courses and workshops were posted live. Statistics on the website indicated a surge in visitors numbers and page hits even up to the first week of May.

Conservative kidney surgery

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) 30904 study released its findings during the Breaking News session which showed that conservative surgery is not inferior to radical renal surgery or nephrectomy. “Few patients progressed during the study, nine in the radical arm and 12 in the conservative arm,” said Prof. Hein van Poppel who issued the EORTC results during the plenary session on kidney cancer.

Special Aniversary Gift: launch of ‘Europe, the cradle of Urology’

Europe, the cradle of Urology

 

2011

26th Annual EAU Congress

18-22 March 2011
Vienna, Austria

Facts & Figures

13,000 participants
3,700 abstracts submitted, 1,161 accepted
40 ESU Courses

Award gallery

Digital content

Congress communication steps in the new direction. At this year’s congress a first attempt at aligning all communication activities with scientific objectives was made. Digital newsletters, “vidcasts”, podcasts, live streams and also a lively Twitter conversation was offered. The new Vienna Congress Website acts as a hub for all digital content.

Award winners were honoured at the EAU Award Gallery for the first time

Multi-disciplinary approach

Experts emphasised the need for a well-coordinated approach in treating highrisk prostate cancer. With a new range of drugs available, uro-oncologists say that an optimal use of these new drugs require a close collaboration with other cancer specialists for treatment to be effective.

Robot-assisted surgery

More trials are needed for robot-assisted surgery before its value or superiority to conventional surgery can be fully evaluated. The recommendations of the EAU Guidelines Office on robot-assisted or minimally invasive surgery for prostate cancer was among the scientific highlights during the congress

2012

27th Annual EAU Congress

24-28 February 2012
Paris, France

Facts & Figures

12,989 participants
3,700 abstract submitted, 1,161 accepted
40 ESU Courses

Environmentally friendly

Keeping up with the latest trends, the EAU moved forward with digital technology solutions for the convenience of its members. According to the yearly poll, almost 15,000 visitors followed the congress online, especially from mobile devices, and almost 40% used the Congress App exclusively. This digital step made the 27th Annual EAU Congress more environmentally friendly, and it also helped the EAU reduce costs and make greater strides towards digital platforms to share urological knowledge.

Focus on uro-oncology

Plenary sessions highlighted major issues in onco-urology and re-examined standard surgical procedures for bladder and prostate cancers. Organ preservation and quality-of-life issues were recurring topics that were raised regarding the critique on radical surgical treatment. Screening for prostate cancer remained a favored topic in the closing scientific session with a presentation of an ESRPC study update that examined the benefits and drawbacks of PSA testing, early PCa diagnosis and radical treatment.

Renewed international impulse

Renewed international impulse

International ties with urological organisations are fundamental for urological advancement. During the congress in Paris, the EAU welcomed delegates from 118 countries, 30 more nationalities than in previous years, making it a truly international urological forum.

Launch of the EAU Resource Center

Launch of the EAU Resource Center

Together with the Congress App, the EAU innovated in the field of tech solutions with its Resource Center search tool. It became easier for all delegates to see the presentations, abstracts, webcasts and posters of the congress, and search through the archives, to find specific information with just a few clicks.

2013

28th Annual EAU Congress

15-19 March 2013
Milan, Italy

Fact & Figures

12,888 participants
3,700 abstract submitted, 1,161 accepted
40 ESU Courses were organised

EAU13 Collaboration is key

Collaboration is key

Intensifying links across urological specialties and medical disciplines on the one hand, and the practical use of recent research findings in everyday clinical practice on the other, were among the recurring messages given by experts, opinion leaders, and speakers during the congress.

Increasing standardisation

During the souvenir session, the EAU Policy on Live Surgery was presented by the EAU Live Surgery Committee. With the introduction of a strict code of conduct for all EAU-organised live surgery events, this policy has established a standardised set of requirements which safeguard the safety of the patient as well as the educational value of the event.

2014

29th Annual EAU Congress

11-15 April 2014
Stockholm, Sweden

Fact & Figures

11,191 participants
4,019 abstract submitted, 1,145 accepted
40 ESU Courses organised

Fusing technological advances with humane patient care

One of the overarching themes of this congress was the combined challenge of not only keeping up with the rapidly-evolving technological innovations in the field, but also to incorporate them into the patient care setting without affecting the fundamental relationship with the patient. Several of these novel techniques were demonstrated during the live surgery sessions and included, among others, robotic flexible ureteroscopy, 3D-HD-videotechnology for laparoscopic procedures, and image-guided endoscopy.

Online conversations with #eau14

Twitter became a very important communication tool for the congress. In the first dedicated social media session, attendants received useful information on how to deal with social media as a doctor. For the duration of the congress 600 participants kept the conversation on Twitter going by sending a combined number of 4,645 tweets, which in turn generated close to 6 million impressions.

Chris Chapple

New chapter in leadership

During the General Assembly, Prof. Chris Chapple (middle) was elected as the next Secretary General.

2015

30th Anniversary Congress

20-24 March 2015
Madrid, Spain

Facts & Figures

11,991 participants
4,260 abstracts submitted, 1,171 accepted abstracts
44 ESU courses organised

Chris Chapple succeeds Per Anders Abrahamsson as Secretary-General

EAU15 marked the formal transition from Per-Anders Abrahamsson to Christopher Chapple as new EAU Secretary General. Abrahamsson, who said it was his aim “to see the association better off when I leave,” expressed his optimism for future EAU successes even as he reiterated that the EAU’s core strategy will stay focused on Europe.

Introduction of EAU TV

EAU15 marked the launch of EAU TV, a daily programme which showed Scientific Programme highlights, interviews with key opinion leaders, thought leadership documentaries, and comments from congress participants.

Launch of EU Focus

EU Focus, the sister journal of European Urology, was launched during EAU15. EU Focus, published six times per year as an e-magazine, features thematic reviews, original reports, correspondence and introductory editorials on a wide range of topics in urology.

Personalised Medicine

A special roundtable meeting on personalised medicine acknowledged the growing trend of physicians who are moving away from standard diagnoses and therapies to those which specifically identify high-risk from low-risk diseases. Personalized medicine is expected to further take hold as patients demand for efficient therapy with less complications, on the one hand, and medicine develops gene-based diagnostics and sophisticated imaging techniques, on the other.

2016

31st Annual EAU Congress

11-15 March 2016
Munich, Germany

Facts & Figures

12,389 participants
4,414  abstracts submitted, 1,189 accepted abstracts
50 ESU Courses and 74 ESU HOT sessions

6th International Congress on the History Of Urology

The 6th International Congress on the History of Urology was held during the opening day of the Annual Congress. Around 200 participants attended.

HM16_Beeldmerk

Key role for MRI

The Plenary Session on prostate cancer examined new imaging techniques such as MRI which prompted mixed assessments from cancer specialists, with many saying that MRI will play a key role in future treatment diagnostics.

Antibiotic stewardship

Antibiotic stewardship was a recurring topic in many of the plenary and thematic sessions as experts cautioned about the rise of resistant organisms due to the increasing use of antibiotics.

Full ESU Programme

ESU presented a full programme including 74 ESU HOT (Hands-on Training Sessions) on 15 different topics. The sessions, including the E-BLUS Exam, were very well visited.
Also several online ecuational programmes, such as Urosource, Surgery in Motion School and EAU Education Online courses were launched and promoted during the congress in Munich.
HOT

2017

32nd Annual EAU Congress

22-28 March 2017
London, United Kingdom

 

 

2018

33rd Annual EAU Congress

16-20 March 2018
Copenhagen, Denmark

Facts & Figures

10,879 participants
4676 abstracts ubmitted, 1427 accepted
53 ESU Courses and 45 ESU Hands-on Training courses

UROlympics took place for the first time.

The Expert-Guided Poster Tours prove to be popular among many participants.

EAU Guidelines Cup

The EAU Guidelines Cup was held for the first time and attracted enthusiastic participation from many countries

eUROGEN

European Commissioner for Health & Food Safety, as guest speaker in the Opening Ceremony, cited the EAU’s contributions to the European Reference Networks through its involvement in eUROGEN. The programme also marked the first EAU Ernest Desnos Prize given to inaugural awardee Prof. Sergio Musitelli.

2019

34th Annual EAU Congress

15-19 March 2019
Barcelona, Spain

Facts & Figures

10,879 participants
5461 abstracts submitted, 1681 accepted
53 ESU Courses and 45 ESU Hands-on Training courses

 

2020

35th Annual EAU Congress

Originally scheduled for 20-24 March 2020 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, EAU20 was initially postponed to July and finally transformed into the three-day EAU20 Virtual Congress, followed by the EAU20 Theme Week.

Facts & Figures

7,500 delegates
51,000 views
130 countries

2021

36th Annual EAU Congress

8-12 July 2021
Virtual

2022

37th Annual EAU Congress

1-4 July 2022
Amsterdam, the Netherlands

1974

1st EAU Congress

12-14 September 1974
Padua, Italy

Facts & Figures

100 Participants

1st Journal

At this congress Prof. G. Mayor officially announced the constitution of European Urology as the official scientific journal of the EAU. The journal was to be published from January 1975 on.

The 1st EAU Congress took place at the Padua University Polyclinic. The new Society’s first activity was a Round Table discussion on the subject of urethral ruptures. The Second Round Table in the afternoon took up Vesical carcinoma, whilst the Third Round Table was devoted to a Post-graduate course in urology.

Prof. Willy Gregoir became the 1st EAU Secretary General

1976

2nd EAU Congress

24- 26 September 1976
Prague, Czech Republic

Facts & Figures

150 participants

First professional gathering of urologists from Western and Eastern Europe. The First Round Table discussed Lymphadenectomy in urological cancer, whilst Urogenital tuberculosis incidence in Europe was the subject in the Second Round Table discussion. Participants noted that in some countries urogenital tuberculosis had almost disappeared.

1978

3rd EAU Congress

14-16 June 1978
Monte Carlo, Monaco

Facts & Figures

400 participants
Abstracts: 100 free papers, 41 films and 23 clinical cases

For the first time seven specialised groups met to discuss the following topics: Scientific Research, Pediatrics, Lithiasias, Urodynamics, Tuberculosis and Intra-renal surgery.
The activities of the EORTC 1978 marked the first time a technical exhibition was held jointly with the congress.
A decision was taken to open the EAU to all European urologists who wished to become a member.

1980

4th EAU Congress

28-31 May 1980
Athens, Greece

Facts & Figures

600 participants
255 abstracts were submitted for the Round Tables
169 free papers, 44 films, 28 posters and around 20 clinical cases.

The congress started on Wednesday with Club meetings. The major themes were ‘New Diagnostic Methods in Urology’ and ‘Surgical Treatment of Malignant Lithiasis’. The entertainment programme included a particularly impressive “son et lumiere” display in the ruins of the ancient theatre at the foot of the Parthenon.

1982

5th EAU Congress

12-15 May, 1982
Vienna, Austria

Facts & Figures

700 Participants
413 abstracts submitted

For the first time a continuing education programme was organised in the city’s hospital for the first two days on Endoscopic Surgery, Principles of Oncological Treatment and Ultrasound in Urology.

In addition to the Clubs for Urodynamics, Pediatric Urology, Infertility and Impotence, three round tables formed the basis of the congress. Scientific topics were Renal Cell Carcinoma, microsurgery in Urology, Tumours of the Renal Pelvis.

Due to the growing volume of scientific material presented at each congress, three committees were set up; Scientific Committee (Prof. Hohenfellner), the Continuing Education Committee (Prof. Nagel) and the Film Committee (Prof. Sole Balcells)

At the end of the Congress Prof. Georges Mayor stepped down as treasurer and was replaced by Prof. Ernst Zingg from Berne. In recognition of his invaluable services to the Association, he was award the distinction of ‘Honorary Member’. The first ever in the Associations history.

1984

6th EAU Congress

23-26 May 1984
Copenhagen, Denmark

Facts & Figures

475 Participants
Chair of the Scientific Committee: Prof. John Blandy
Chair of the Film Committee: Prof. Walter De Sy
English was adopted as the sole language for future congresses

Prof. Steg

The first post graduate teaching day was held at the Rigshospital and tackled two themes: ‘Surgery of the uretero-vesical junction’ and ‘Cancer of the testicles’. The second day took place at Herlev Hospital where a presentation of ‘Urinary Incontinence’ was given and followed by a discussion on ‘Shrinkage of the urethra’. Four Club Meetings were held on Wednesday supplemented with film presentations and, for the first time, video footage. Topics discussed during the Round Table discussions were: Vesical cancer, Andrology, Prostate cancer, Recent findings in the treatment of lithiasis.

Prof. A. Steg (FR) was elected Secretary General and succeeded Prof. Gregoir.

1986

7th EAU Congress

26-28 June 1986
Budapest, Hungary

Facts & Figures

700 participants
413 abstracts submitted

Orthotopic bladder substitution

Orthotopic bladder substitution “I first started to think about orthotopic bladder substitution in 1983, when I saw the deadly complications arising from the use of continent reservoirs. Patients were unable to catheterise themselves and died overnight from septicemia. The idea of an intestinal bladder substitute was not new, it had been tried many times in urological history. What was new was the avoidance of incontinence caused by the tubular reservoirs. I tried a low-pressure reservoir which does not have high pressure spikes due to intestinal contractions. I used the principal which was developed by Dr. Goodwin for bladder augmentation procedures,” said Studer. “The results from animal studies were presented for the first time at the Annual EAU Congress in Budapest in 1986, which resulted in a great deal of opposition. I was glad to get out of the audience alive!” said Studer. “The first paper on the subject which was submitted to the Journal of Urology was rejected because the reviewers said it was nothing new. As it turned out, one of the reviewers presented his own ‘new’ technique a few months later,” added Studer with an amused look.

1988

8th EAU Congress

18-21 May 1988
London, United Kingdom

Facts & Figures

500 participants
More than 500 abstracts submitted

Willy Gregoir Medal

Mr. Harold Hopkins (GB) received the first Willy Gregoir Medal. The medal’s design was based on a profile sketch made by Prof. John Blandy.

A great deal of the discussion focused on vesicoureteral reflux in pediatric urology. For the first time a debate was held on the treatment of benign hypertrophia of the prostate, hyperthermia, the use of lasers and urethal prostheses.

1990

9th EAU Congress

13-16 June 1990
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Facts & figures

1,500 participants
1,500 abstracts submitted
Chair of the Scientific Committee: Prof. Tage Hald
Foundation of the EAU Historical Committee by Dr. Johan Mattelaer

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the EAU transformed itself from a small group of 400 members to an international organisation.  A large number of urologists from Central and Eastern Europe also linked up with the EAU. Prof. Frans Debruyne also invited urologists from North America, Japan, Australia and Asia. The Amsterdam congress will no doubt be remembered as one of the most successful and scientifically significant EAU congresses.  At the Amsterdam congress the EAU truly became an “open” association.

1992

10th EAU Congress

21-25 July 1992
Genoa, Italy

Facts & Figures

2,500 participants
1,200 abstracts submitted
Prof. Debruyne (NL) succeeded Prof. Steg as Secretary General.

1st EBU Exam

The first EBU Exams took place during this Congress, considered by many as ‘a milestone in European urology. ’A total of 253 urologists took the exam made up of 100 multiple-choice questions, which were translated in 8 recognised EC languages. The final figures were: 94 Italian, 21 Dutch, 34 German, 8 Greek, 6 Portugese, 21 Spanish, 5 Danish, 27 English, 37 French.

1994

11th EAU Congress

13-16 July 1994
Berlin, Germany

Facts & Figures

2,300 participants
Over 1,200 abstracts submitted

After close and continued efforts over the years, the American Urological Association (AUA) and the EAU finally launched the EAU-AUA Exchange Programme, a unique collaborative project which is actively promoted by both associations.

Congress President Reinhard Nagel:

“Due to the rapid development in the field of molecular biology in our understanding of the process of malignant transformation, of the regulation of the immune defence and in the underlying mechanisms of chemoresistance, non-invasive, conservative management is conceivable in many situations which today still require surgical treatment. I believe that some of these developments will become reality in the near future.”

1996

12th EAU Congress

1-4 September 1996
Paris, France

Facts & Figures

4,800 participants
800 papers selected for the Scientific sessions and 500 poster resentations were on display as well as a range of video presentations showing various surgical techniques.
The first time 6 ESU Courses were organised
Chair of the Scientific Committee: Prof. Laurent Boccon-Gibod
The First Crystal Matula Award was granted to Prof. Freddie Hamdy, Sheffield (GB)

At the General Assembly the new structure of the EAU with various new committees for all the new activities were approved. From that moment on the EAU grew at tremendous in terms of membership, congress participants as well as activities.

French virologist Prof. Luc Montagnier, who later received the 2008 Nobel Prize for Medicine as co-winner for his discovery of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), outlined treatment procedures in a state-of-the art lecture given during the this Congress in Paris.

1998

13th EAU Congress

21-25 March 1998
Barcelona, Spain

Facts & Figures

5,300 participants
Over 1,700 abstracts submitted
8 ESU Courses
Continuous Internet access was made available
The first time abstracts were recorded on CD

A turning point

From a biennial meeting, the EAU Congress becomes an annual event. The Opening Ceremony took place with Juan Antonio Samaranch Torelló as special guest. Samaranch Torelló, Marquess of Samaranch, served as the 7th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1980 to 2001. The organisation from that moment on is entirely in the hands of the congress Department of the EAU Central Office.

1999

14th Annual EAU Congress

Stockholm, Sweden
7-11 April 1999

Facts & Figures

6,000 participants
1,800 abstracts submitted
14 ESU Courses organized

Introduction of Viagra

“Viagra completely changed the paradigm of treatment of erectile dysfunction. Viagra was the first oral drug to treat this condition and it immediately showed an outstanding efficacy and safety profile. In addition, the discovery of Viagra opened the way to the assessment of other compounds of the same pharmacological class: PDE5 inhibitors. Soon after the discovery of Viagra, the development of Cialis and Levitra also started”, says Prof. Francesco Montorsi

P Ekman singing 1999

2000

15th Annual EAU Congress

Brussels, Belgium
12-15 April 2000

Facts & Figures

5,500 participants
1,800 abstracts submitted, 720 accepted
22 ESU Courses organised
1,500 exhibitors

The first EAU Guidelines were presented.

The 15th Annual Congress was also known as the Millennium Congress being the first major urological event in the new century.

All slides used in state-of-the-art lectures were posted almost immediately on Uroweb.

EAU map Guidelines 2000

2001

16th Annual EAU Congress

7-10 April 2001
Geneva, Switserland

Facts & Figures

5,436 participants
1,664 abstracts submitted
37 ESU Courses organised

ESUT Garden of the future

The latest innovations of Urotechnology were demonstrated by key European Urologists. Additionally delegates had the opportunity of tutor-guided hands-on to the devises.

Professor Abbou and the ‘stolen’ robot

“When the cardiac surgeon was on holiday in July of that year, I decided to ‘steal’ the department robot for a radical prostatectomy which went very successful. Since we were among the first people to use the robot – there was one other team in Germany – we did not get any training and had to learn how to use the robot on the job. However this was no problem since the robot was already used as a tool in laparoscopic surgery. After insertion of the tubes, the instruments that go through the tubes can either be used by humans or by robots. In the end the robot turned out to be pretty straightforward to use. However in the beginning many doctors said we were crazy using a robot for such a procedure; they were convinced it would not work.”

2002

17th Annual EAU Congress

Birmingham, United Kingdom
23-26 February 2002

Facts & Figures

5,136 participants
1,610 abstracts submitted
30 ESU Courses organised

Princess Ann

One of the highlights was the visit of Her RoyalHighness the Princess Royal, Ann.

UroBand

The Mannheim Uroband played at the Welcome Cocktail. In 1998 when the band was founded, all the members were urologists (senior registrars and residents) at the Department of Urology, Medical School Mannheim, University of Heidelberg (Head: Prof. Dr. Peter Alken).

2003

18th Annual EAU Congress

12-15 March 2003
Madrid, Spain

Facts & Figures

7,000 participants
2,503 abstracts submitted, 1,059 selected
30 ESU Courses organised

Premiere of the Late Breaking News sessions

The first Late Breaking News sessions presented a variety of topics, ranging from sexual function preservation and restoration to diagnostics in bladder and prostate cancer. Eleven abstracts were submitted.

Board

Since 2003 only Windows PowerPoint presentations are used during congress presentations replacing the plastic slides

2004

19th Annual EAU Congress

24-27 March 2004
Vienna, Austria

Facts & Figures

6,605 participants
2,260 abstracts submitted, 959 selected
31 ESU Courses organised

After 12 chairs Prof. Frans Debruyne resigns and Prof. Pierre Teillac is the new Secretary General of the EAU.

2005

20st Annual EAU Congress

16-19 March 2005
Istanbul, Turkey

Facts & Figures

6,500 participants
2,763 abstracts submitted, 1,126 accepted
31 ESU Courses organised

Prototype lithotripter

A lithotripter is usually not an object of culturalinterest. But model HMR3 once produced as a prototype by Dornier MedTech GMBH to disintegrate kidney stones without surgical intervention was donated to the EAU. Nowadays, a urologist cannot do without lithotripters.

Tsunami donation

The EAU Executive Committee pledged a sum of 100,000 euros to support the rebuilding of the urological department in Banda Acheh, Indonesia and to buy new instruments for hospitals damaged by the tsunami in Asia. The president of the IAU, Prof. Doddy Soebadi received the donation in Istanbul.

2006

21st Annual EAU Congress

5-8 April 2006
Paris, France

Facts & Figures

11,565 participants
2,647 abstracts submitted, 1,209 selected
34 ESU Courses organised

The 21st Annual EAU Congress in Paris marked one of the biggest surge in terms of attendance and participation in the EAU congresses, nearly doubling the attendance in 2005. Complementing this growth was the rise in the number of submitted abstracts and a wider coverage of urological topics.

Focus on best practices

Some of the major topics taken up during the plenary sessions included the contemporary management of prostate cancer, the developments of angiogenesis inhibitors for stopping tumour cell growth and the latest developments for the treatment of Lower Urinary Track Syndrome (LUTS). Panel discussions, debates and open forums and lectures focusing on prostate cancer diagnosis

exhib opening teillac BC

jerry hall

2007

22nd Annual EAU Congress

21-24 March 2007
Berlin, Germany

Facts & Figures

12,500 participants
2,400 abstracts submitted, 1,150 selected
24 ESU Courses were organized

Prof. Per-Anders Abrahamsson (SE) was elected as the new Secretary General

Prof. Per-Anders Abrahamsson (SE) was elected as the new Secretary General of the EAU and succeeds Pierre Teillac.

2008

23rd Annual EAU Congress

26-29 March 2008
Milan, Italy

Facts & Figures

13,489 participants
3,440 abstracts submitted, 1,061 accepted
25 ESU Courses organised

Smart bombs for prostate cancer

Amongst the highlights of the scientific lectures were targeted therapy or ‘smart bombs’ for prostate cancer, the growing prevalence of nosocomial urinary tract infections (NAUTI), biological markers for urological cancers and optisiming targeted therapies for metastatic renal cell carcinoma, amongst others. The various EAU Sections Offices also called for closer collaborativeprojects and stressed the need for more exchanges in best practices. Heads of the various offices expect that collaboration with other disciplines such as medical oncology and radiotherapy will be given more attention in the coming years.

Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

2009

24th Annual EAU Congress

17-21 March 2009
Stockholm, Sweden

Facts&Figures

10,848 Participants
2,318 abstracts submitted, 1,048 accepted
38 ESU Courses

First Guidelines Interactive Forum session

Clinical guidelines were not exactly a ‘hot topic’ in the 1990’s when the EAU first launched the Guidelines project. Today, the EAU takes a frontline role on the issue of guidelines creation. In Stockholm, the first Interactive Forum was a success with 235 voting participants. A number of patient scenarios were presented and the voting results were

  • The first time ESU Education in Progress was organised
  • First International day: Urology beyond Europe

2010

25th Anniversary Congress

16-20 April 2010
Barcelona, Spain

Fact & Figures

10.660 registered participants
3,800 abstract submitted, 1054 accepted
38 ESU Courses organised
25th Anniversary EAU Congress

Live’ webcasts attract high visitors numbers

For the first time high visitor numbers were registered or viewed the live webcasts at the EAU’s www.uroweb.org. Recordings of the plenary sessions, debates, lectures, courses and workshops were posted live. Statistics on the website indicated a surge in visitors numbers and page hits even up to the first week of May.

Conservative kidney surgery

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) 30904 study released its findings during the Breaking News session which showed that conservative surgery is not inferior to radical renal surgery or nephrectomy. “Few patients progressed during the study, nine in the radical arm and 12 in the conservative arm,” said Prof. Hein van Poppel who issued the EORTC results during the plenary session on kidney cancer.

Special Aniversary Gift: launch of ‘Europe, the cradle of Urology’

Europe, the cradle of Urology

 

2011

26th Annual EAU Congress

18-22 March 2011
Vienna, Austria

Facts & Figures

13,000 participants
3,700 abstracts submitted, 1,161 accepted
40 ESU Courses

Award gallery

Digital content

Congress communication steps in the new direction. At this year’s congress a first attempt at aligning all communication activities with scientific objectives was made. Digital newsletters, “vidcasts”, podcasts, live streams and also a lively Twitter conversation was offered. The new Vienna Congress Website acts as a hub for all digital content.

Award winners were honoured at the EAU Award Gallery for the first time

Multi-disciplinary approach

Experts emphasised the need for a well-coordinated approach in treating highrisk prostate cancer. With a new range of drugs available, uro-oncologists say that an optimal use of these new drugs require a close collaboration with other cancer specialists for treatment to be effective.

Robot-assisted surgery

More trials are needed for robot-assisted surgery before its value or superiority to conventional surgery can be fully evaluated. The recommendations of the EAU Guidelines Office on robot-assisted or minimally invasive surgery for prostate cancer was among the scientific highlights during the congress

2012

27th Annual EAU Congress

24-28 February 2012
Paris, France

Facts & Figures

12,989 participants
3,700 abstract submitted, 1,161 accepted
40 ESU Courses

Environmentally friendly

Keeping up with the latest trends, the EAU moved forward with digital technology solutions for the convenience of its members. According to the yearly poll, almost 15,000 visitors followed the congress online, especially from mobile devices, and almost 40% used the Congress App exclusively. This digital step made the 27th Annual EAU Congress more environmentally friendly, and it also helped the EAU reduce costs and make greater strides towards digital platforms to share urological knowledge.

Focus on uro-oncology

Plenary sessions highlighted major issues in onco-urology and re-examined standard surgical procedures for bladder and prostate cancers. Organ preservation and quality-of-life issues were recurring topics that were raised regarding the critique on radical surgical treatment. Screening for prostate cancer remained a favored topic in the closing scientific session with a presentation of an ESRPC study update that examined the benefits and drawbacks of PSA testing, early PCa diagnosis and radical treatment.

Renewed international impulse

Renewed international impulse

International ties with urological organisations are fundamental for urological advancement. During the congress in Paris, the EAU welcomed delegates from 118 countries, 30 more nationalities than in previous years, making it a truly international urological forum.

Launch of the EAU Resource Center

Launch of the EAU Resource Center

Together with the Congress App, the EAU innovated in the field of tech solutions with its Resource Center search tool. It became easier for all delegates to see the presentations, abstracts, webcasts and posters of the congress, and search through the archives, to find specific information with just a few clicks.

2013

28th Annual EAU Congress

15-19 March 2013
Milan, Italy

Fact & Figures

12,888 participants
3,700 abstract submitted, 1,161 accepted
40 ESU Courses were organised

EAU13 Collaboration is key

Collaboration is key

Intensifying links across urological specialties and medical disciplines on the one hand, and the practical use of recent research findings in everyday clinical practice on the other, were among the recurring messages given by experts, opinion leaders, and speakers during the congress.

Increasing standardisation

During the souvenir session, the EAU Policy on Live Surgery was presented by the EAU Live Surgery Committee. With the introduction of a strict code of conduct for all EAU-organised live surgery events, this policy has established a standardised set of requirements which safeguard the safety of the patient as well as the educational value of the event.

2014

29th Annual EAU Congress

11-15 April 2014
Stockholm, Sweden

Fact & Figures

11,191 participants
4,019 abstract submitted, 1,145 accepted
40 ESU Courses organised

Fusing technological advances with humane patient care

One of the overarching themes of this congress was the combined challenge of not only keeping up with the rapidly-evolving technological innovations in the field, but also to incorporate them into the patient care setting without affecting the fundamental relationship with the patient. Several of these novel techniques were demonstrated during the live surgery sessions and included, among others, robotic flexible ureteroscopy, 3D-HD-videotechnology for laparoscopic procedures, and image-guided endoscopy.

Online conversations with #eau14

Twitter became a very important communication tool for the congress. In the first dedicated social media session, attendants received useful information on how to deal with social media as a doctor. For the duration of the congress 600 participants kept the conversation on Twitter going by sending a combined number of 4,645 tweets, which in turn generated close to 6 million impressions.

Chris Chapple

New chapter in leadership

During the General Assembly, Prof. Chris Chapple (middle) was elected as the next Secretary General.

2015

30th Anniversary Congress

20-24 March 2015
Madrid, Spain

Facts & Figures

11,991 participants
4,260 abstracts submitted, 1,171 accepted abstracts
44 ESU courses organised

Chris Chapple succeeds Per Anders Abrahamsson as Secretary-General

EAU15 marked the formal transition from Per-Anders Abrahamsson to Christopher Chapple as new EAU Secretary General. Abrahamsson, who said it was his aim “to see the association better off when I leave,” expressed his optimism for future EAU successes even as he reiterated that the EAU’s core strategy will stay focused on Europe.

Introduction of EAU TV

EAU15 marked the launch of EAU TV, a daily programme which showed Scientific Programme highlights, interviews with key opinion leaders, thought leadership documentaries, and comments from congress participants.

Launch of EU Focus

EU Focus, the sister journal of European Urology, was launched during EAU15. EU Focus, published six times per year as an e-magazine, features thematic reviews, original reports, correspondence and introductory editorials on a wide range of topics in urology.

Personalised Medicine

A special roundtable meeting on personalised medicine acknowledged the growing trend of physicians who are moving away from standard diagnoses and therapies to those which specifically identify high-risk from low-risk diseases. Personalized medicine is expected to further take hold as patients demand for efficient therapy with less complications, on the one hand, and medicine develops gene-based diagnostics and sophisticated imaging techniques, on the other.

2016

31st Annual EAU Congress

11-15 March 2016
Munich, Germany

Facts & Figures

12,389 participants
4,414  abstracts submitted, 1,189 accepted abstracts
50 ESU Courses and 74 ESU HOT sessions

6th International Congress on the History Of Urology

The 6th International Congress on the History of Urology was held during the opening day of the Annual Congress. Around 200 participants attended.

HM16_Beeldmerk

Key role for MRI

The Plenary Session on prostate cancer examined new imaging techniques such as MRI which prompted mixed assessments from cancer specialists, with many saying that MRI will play a key role in future treatment diagnostics.

Antibiotic stewardship

Antibiotic stewardship was a recurring topic in many of the plenary and thematic sessions as experts cautioned about the rise of resistant organisms due to the increasing use of antibiotics.

Full ESU Programme

ESU presented a full programme including 74 ESU HOT (Hands-on Training Sessions) on 15 different topics. The sessions, including the E-BLUS Exam, were very well visited.
Also several online ecuational programmes, such as Urosource, Surgery in Motion School and EAU Education Online courses were launched and promoted during the congress in Munich.
HOT

2017

32nd Annual EAU Congress

22-28 March 2017
London, United Kingdom

 

 

2018

33rd Annual EAU Congress

16-20 March 2018
Copenhagen, Denmark

Facts & Figures

10,879 participants
4676 abstracts ubmitted, 1427 accepted
53 ESU Courses and 45 ESU Hands-on Training courses

UROlympics took place for the first time.

The Expert-Guided Poster Tours prove to be popular among many participants.

EAU Guidelines Cup

The EAU Guidelines Cup was held for the first time and attracted enthusiastic participation from many countries

eUROGEN

European Commissioner for Health & Food Safety, as guest speaker in the Opening Ceremony, cited the EAU’s contributions to the European Reference Networks through its involvement in eUROGEN. The programme also marked the first EAU Ernest Desnos Prize given to inaugural awardee Prof. Sergio Musitelli.

2019

34th Annual EAU Congress

15-19 March 2019
Barcelona, Spain

Facts & Figures

10,879 participants
5461 abstracts submitted, 1681 accepted
53 ESU Courses and 45 ESU Hands-on Training courses

 

2020

35th Annual EAU Congress

Originally scheduled for 20-24 March 2020 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, EAU20 was initially postponed to July and finally transformed into the three-day EAU20 Virtual Congress, followed by the EAU20 Theme Week.

Facts & Figures

7,500 delegates
51,000 views
130 countries

2021

36th Annual EAU Congress

8-12 July 2021
Virtual

2022

37th Annual EAU Congress

1-4 July 2022
Amsterdam, the Netherlands