The United European Gastroenterology Federation (UEGF) is a professional medical non-profit organisation comprising all of the major European societies with an interest in disease of the digestive system, including the oesophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, intestine and bowel. The European societies that make up the Federation include medicine, surgery, paediatrics, GI oncology and endoscopy. UEGF is the most comprehensive organisation of this kind in the world and our affiliated societies represent over 22.000 European specialists. UEGW is a core activity of UEGF. Every October, gastroenterologists from all over Europe and many other parts of the world assemble in a major European city for five days. They convene to learn about the results of cutting-edge research, exchange new ideas and take part in educational courses on diagnostic methods and treatment techniques. The Congress offers a perfect mix of basic science and clinical practice spanning the entire discipline of gastroenterology. The success of UEGW is due to an outstanding scientific programme with an emphasis on the newest research advances as well as clinical and technical innovations in all areas of gastroenterology and related fields. Moreover, UEGW has become a lively meeting place not only for medical experts but also for patient organisations‘ representatives and common interest groups. As UEGW provides the international gastro-enterology community with a unique platform, it enables up-to-date knowledge to be disseminated to individual hospitals and practices. Ultimately, it is the patients who greatly benefit from this outstanding information flow.