The first competition bearing the name of "European Fencing Championships" was held in Paris in 1921.
[1] After 1937 the FIE focused on the organisation of the World Fencing Championships.
Demand for European Championships appeared at the 1979 congress, but it was rejected on the ground that they would either belittle the World Championships or offer a poor fencing level.
They proved to cause no interference with the 1981 World Championships and the restriction was lifted.
The remaining fencers compete in a direct elimination table.