As needed ICS/formoterol: not all of Europe is equal.

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: A. Bush is the current ERS Guidelines Director. W. Randerath is ERS Guidelines Director elect, and also reports lecture honoraria from Heinen & Löwenstein, Habel Medizintechnik, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inspire, Philips Respironics, Bioprojet and Westfalen Medical, travel support from Heinen & Löwenstein, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Philips Respironics, Habel Medizintechnik and Bioprojet, advisory board participation with Bioprojet, Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Procter & Gamble, and leadership roles as European Respiratory Society Head of Assembly 4, and Secretary General of the German Respiratory Society. N. Roche is Chair of the ERS Scientific Committee, and also reports grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, GSK and Pfizer, consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Chiesi, Pfizer, Novartis, Teva, Bayer, Austral and Biosency, lecture honoraria from Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Chiesi, Pfizer, Novartis, Teva, Zambon, MSD and Menarini, and travel support from Chiesi, AstraZeneca and GSK.