The European Surgical Association was founded in 1993 and is one of the most prestigious European surgical organisations.
Its members are the continent's most prominent surgeons from leading academic medical institutions, many of whom are heads of departments of surgery at these institutions.
The main mission of the Association is to be one of the leading organisations for surgical science and education, and to provide a continental forum for the presentation of the state of the art and science of general and highly specialised surgery and for the advancement of the standards of the medical/surgical profession.
This mission is achieved primarily by holding an annual scientific meeting consisting of selected presentations that provide the most up-to-date information on clinical and research topics related to surgery or surgical specialties, including outcomes research, practice of surgery, ethical and other issues affecting its practice.
The Association intends to bring together leading surgeons and scientists from Europe and other continents for a free and open discussion of their latest clinical and research achievements.