The competition was open to skaters from European ISU member nations who had reached the age of 15 before 1 July 2008. The corresponding competition for non-European skaters was the 2009 Four Continents Championships. National associations selected their entries based on their own criteria. Based on the results of the 2008 European Championships, each country was allowed between one and three entries per discipline. The following countries earned more than the minimum.[1]
Lepistö became the first Finn to win the ladies' single title, and second overall after Susanna Rahkamo / Petri Kokko's 1995 ice dancing title.[7] With Susanna Pöykiö winning bronze, it was also the first time Finns took two spots on the European podium.[7]