Reflections on possible virtues of European medical education

Political and social development in Europe will lead to increased mobility of doctors between countries as well as opening up new possibilities and horizons for educational institutions. In this emerging process the charge that universities are too traditional to change may not be valid when the virtues of academic traditions in Europe are considered. When those virtues are taken into account, they are seen to facilitate the integration of more current goals for future development into undergraduate medical curricula. The use of external examiners between different countries in Europe will promote greater quality in European medical education.