The need to harmonise undergraduate dental education and the recognition of dental degrees throughout the member countries of the European Union was recognised early on and was subject of EEC Directives in 1978. Growth of the EEC into the EU with the addition of more member nations has lead to continuing debate about the appropriate standards and measures for dental education. Attention has been given to defining both the 'input' measures of stipulating curricula and the 'output' measures of testing the competency of graduating dentists.