The European Laryngological Society was officially founded in January 1995 in Brussels, on the initiative of Profs. Oskar Kleinsasser (Germany)−who was also the society's first president−, Italo SeraWni (Italy), Bernard Luboinski (France) and Jan Olofsson (Norway).

The concept was to convene the European otorhinolaryngologists taking a particular interest in the overall field of laryngology and to provide them with a venue for expressing and promoting their work outside the considerations of national representation, which is sometimes too restrictive.

During the course of their career, many leading laryngologists noticed considerable difficulties in spreading their work on a European level due to the lack of a structured society, of planned meetings, and of a publication organ for rigorous work. The stronger personalities, of course, managed to cross national borders and to achieve international acknowledgement, but it was not uncommon that their ideas were only recognized in Europe much later.

Laryngology in Europe had so far only been represented in national and regional oto-rhino-laryngologic societies. Consequently, laryngologic topics were mainly covered and discussed in a rather scattered and often marginal manner at various conventions; but in Europe, the cradle of laryngology and the source of the newest ideas and developments, laryngology−one of the main pillars of our specialty− should be better represented.

A non-political and non-profit society, it is devoted to the knowledge and developments in all fields of Laryngology. It aims to unite European otorhinolaryngologists

• To further the scientific development in the field of laryngology;
• To widen the knowledge and to assess the practical implementation of technical and scientific developments in this field;
• To promote and foster the professional skills of members;
• To further the scientific development in the field of laryngology;
• To encourage continuing education of laryngologists through the organization of conventions, meetings, courses and workshops.