Questionnaires regarding neurosurgical training were sent to all participan
ts of the EANS-training course in Barcelona 1999 and to all national neuros
urgical societies of EANS. The completed questionnaires show a significant
variation in 1) the demands for education prior to obtaining a neurosurgica
l training position, 2) in the theoretical training programme and 3) in the
surgical experience obtained within the training period. The trainees expr
ess a need for improvement of the neurosurgical training programmes. The ne
ed for common guidelines for European neurosurgical training as well as reg
ular evaluation of the training programmes are discussed.