The event was held from January 21 through 27, 2008 at Dom Sportova in Zagreb, Croatia.

The competition was open to skaters from European ISU member nations who had reached the age of 15 before July 1, 2007.

The corresponding competition for non-European skaters was the 2008 Four Continents Championships.

Based on the results of the 2007 European Championships, each country was allowed between one and three entries per discipline.

National associations selected their entries based on their own criteria.