New deep seismic profiles in the southern Baltic region have failed to image the Trans-European Fault. Evidence for this structure, of suggested pre-Cadomian age, is critically re-examined. Localized geophysical anomalies are present, but these cannot be correlated with known structural features of the region. Based on the inconclusive evidence for this structure, we would therefore propose that the term ‘Trans-European Fault’ should not be used in the future, and that, to avoid confusion, authors use local names for local structures.