What is the European Neurological Society (ENS)?

The ENS was founded in 1986, as based on the initiative of Gérard Said, Anita Harding and P.K. Thomas. The ENS is modelled after the American Academy of neurology, in which teaching courses at its annual meeting play a prominent role. Moreover, the ENS represents an effort to break away from national representation to membership on an individual basis. This emphasis on individuality underlines the importance of expertise in the various fields of neurology, as well as the singular expression of enthusiasm for clinical and experimental neurology.

The aims of the society are

	to provide continuing education in all fields of neurology
	to create a scientific forum for the presentation of original research work for all neurologists
	to guarantee a high level of scientific standard
	to support the younger generation by continuing promotions such as travel grants, fellowship stipends or the new neurologist in training offer

Members
The ENS has now become the most prominent society of neurologists on the European Continent with a total of 2300 (including all categories) members from 60 countires worldwide.

Meetings
The First Meeting was held in Nice in June 1988, organized by Gerard Said with Pierre Martin as the local organizer. Approximately 1000 neurologists attended.

The Second Meeting, organized by Anita Harding, was held two years later in Brighton, UK, with a similar number of participants. Both congresses combined teaching courses and scientific sessions.

The success of the teaching programme at the first two meetings encouraged the ENS to expand this component for the Third Meeting, which took place in Lausanne in June 1992, with Andreas Steck as congress president.

After the meeting in Barcelona (1994), organized by Nolasc Acarin and Prof. Eduardo Tolosa, ENS conferences were held on an annual basis.