AbstractHendrik Ferdinande from the University of Ghent, who chaired the conference Physics Studies for Tomorrow's Europe (Ghent, 7–8 April 1995) and its Scientific Committee, summarises the meeting's conclusions and recommendations, many of which will be taken up by a proposed SOCRATES Academic Development Programme for physics called the European Physics Education Network.Physics being universal does not of itself have a European dimension. Yet the European dimension in physics teaching is vital if we are to build upon the diversity of approaches to physics. The conference Physics Studies for Tomorrow's Europe was perhaps the first occasion on which authorities on physics teaching could take a detailed look at how the European dimension in physics studies and training can be enhanced. Discussions were based on National Reports [1] prepared by National Experts (members of the conference's Scientific Committee). They include a considerable amount of invaluable data describing the present status of the teaching of physics in 24 European countries, as well as discussions of future needs and the implementation of special measures.The meeting, which went under the title of a European Evaluation Conference, was sponsored by the European Commission's (EC) new Directorate‐General for Education, Training and Youth (DG‐XXII). Some 20 of these thematic conferences in various academic disciplines are being held in order to provide the basis for creating SOCRATES Academic Cooperation Projects (see below), where the level of funding will be decided once proposals have been evaluated. The conference also aimed to prepare for other aspects of the SOCRATES programme so support was provided by the current TEMPUS and ERASMUS programmes. These are now largely absorbed in SOCRATES which aims to develop a European dimension at all levels of education.