The Section and Board of Anaesthesiology of the European Union of Medical Specialists aims (EUMS/UEMS) at harmonization of training of anaesthesiologists and at improvement of patient care throughout Europe. Pain medicine is considered to be an area of expertise in anaesthesiology although exclusivity is not claimed. The Section and Board has approved both a core syllabus for pain medicine to be part of the specialist training in anaesthesiology and an additional qualification in pain medicine following the completion of a 5 yr basic specialty training in anaesthesiology. These proposals were prepared by the Working Party on Pain Medicine of the Section and Board. It considers a multidisciplinary approach to pain to contribute to quality in care and has taken the initiative to set up a Multidisciplinary Joint Committee on Pain Medicine within the EUMS/UEMS, for which these guidelines define the area of expertise of anaesthesiology.