The Treaty of Rome provides for the free exchange of persons, services, goods and capital within the European Community. Free exchange of persons and services within the medical sector has been achieved by mutual recognition of basic and specialist medical qualifications brought into effect by the Commission of the European Communities (EC) in 1975. The Directives have been consolidated in the Directive 93/16/EEC of 5 April 1993.

This Directive 93/16 specifies that Member States shall ensure that the training leading to a diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications in specialised medicine, meets a number of minimum quality criteria, including duration, content, setting and quality control. It also establishes that Member States shall designate the authorities and bodies competent to issue or receive the diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications.

The UEMS (Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes) is the representative organisation of all medical specialists in the EC. The UEMS is constituted by the representative organisations of medical specialists in the member states of the EC and the EFTA countries as well as associate members and observers from other European countries. One of its statutory purposes is the formulation of a common policy in the field of training.

The UEMS Section of Rheumatology is the representative body of rheumatologists within UEMS. Members of the UEMS Section of Rheumatology are appointed by the appropriate professional organisations of the specialties in the EC member states and EFTA countries in accordance with UEMS rules of procedure.

The European Board of Rheumatology was set up by the relevant UEMS Section of Rheumatology with the purpose of guaranteeing the highest standards of care for rheumatological conditions in the EC member states by ensuring that the training of specialists is raised to an adequate level.

Working in cooperation with the European Commission, UEMS …