A New Chapter in Financial Stewardship — Building Together for All Generations

An interview with ESU’s newly appointed Treasurer: Gnanam Seminck

Patrick Penninckx (PP):
Gnanam, first of all, congratulations on your unanimous election as Treasurer of the ESU. What does this new role mean to you personally, and what motivated you to accept this responsibility?

Gnanam Seminck (GS):
Thank you, Patrick, and thank you to the Presidency and membership for entrusting me with this role. For me, this is more than a technical function: it is a mission. Over the years, through my local work in Oudenaarde and through civic engagement, I have come to see how crucial it is that seniors not merely receive support — but actively contribute, shape and co-create.

The values that drive me — intergenerational solidarity, dignity and respect, participation, social cohesion, lifelong learning, health and well-being, digital inclusion — these are not abstract ideals. They are the very fabric of what I believe Europe must build. As Treasurer, I see my role as giving financial form and strength to those values, ensuring that our Union is stable, transparent, and capable of making tangible impact across all member organisations, very much in line with the Strategic Action Plan 2030, adopted in Ciudad Real.

PP:
Your political work in Oudenaarde gives you a strong local grounding. Could you tell us a bit about your trajectory there and how it informs your ESU role?

GS:
Certainly. In Oudenaarde, I have held several municipal functions (councillor, board functions, etc.), always focusing on inclusion, community projects, social policy, and bridging generational divides. Working at municipal level teaches you directly how policies touch people’s daily lives — whether it’s access to care, education, bridging the digital divide, or promoting intergenerational encounters.

This local experience helps me understand how to translate European-level ambitions into concrete actions. When we talk about seniors participating in decision-making, for example, that cannot remain a slogan: we must design inclusive processes, tools, budgets, and supportive frameworks — whether at city or European level. That insight will guide how I oversee our resources and together with the Presidency, propose priorities within ESU.

PP:
Let’s talk about your priorities as Treasurer. Which principles will you bring to the financial governance of ESU?

GS:
I will anchor my stewardship in six core principles:

• Transparency: ensuring open communication about our revenues and expenditures, so all members can see how funds are used.
• Accountability: producing careful reports to the Presidency and Executive Committee, and inviting scrutiny and feedback.
• Reliability: upholding financial integrity, with checks and internal controls to foster trust. I very much rely on the Secretary General and President to work with the four-eyes principle : all expenditure of one, is checked by the other
• Efficient management: always seeking to allocate resources where they yield greatest impact, avoiding waste.
• Sustainability: thinking long term — so the organization is resilient, not dependent on unstable funding, keeping in mind our plans until 2030.
• Compliance: adhering strictly to the ESU statutes, European, in particular EPP and European Parliament, and national legislative rules, and strong ethical standards.

In practice, this means building budget models that link directly to our program goals (e.g. digital inclusion, lifelong learning) and maintaining reserves for continuity amid uncertainty.

PP:
How do you see these responsibilities connecting to ESU’s wider European network and advocacy work?

GS:
As Treasurer, I must ensure that our financial framework supports our strategic engagement. That means:

• European solidarity: enabling cross-border cooperation and resource sharing among member associations.
• Dialogue: facilitating collaboration with the European People’s Party, AGE Platform Europe, EU institutions, and civic movements — not only through policy input, but through co-funded initiatives, through the Study Centres, Institutes and Foundations.
• Advocacy: ensuring funds are available to translate advocacy into action — study reports, awareness campaigns, training sessions, lobbying support.
• Connectivity: financially enabling joint projects with the other EPP Associations, such as EPP Women and YEPP, exchanges, capacity building among national and regional associations.
• Diversity: recognizing the different social, cultural, and economic realities in Europe, and organising events in various locations in Europe, as already planned for 2026 and 2027
• Future orientation: investing in innovation — new tools for senior participation, digital inclusion, learning platforms — that remain relevant across changing times.

In short, my financial work is not behind the scenes — it’s foundational to our capacity to act, to bring seniors into the heart of European debate, and to shape policies that truly leave no one behind.

PP:
You have emphasised many times intergenerational solidarity. Could you expand on how you plan to promote this in ESU’s programs?

GS:
Intergenerational solidarity is central to a humane Europe. Seniors should not be viewed as a separate group, but as integral to society — as mentors, knowledge-holders, contributors to community life, and partners with younger generations. Within ESU, I will advocate for:

• joint projects between youth organisations and senior associations (cultural, educational, civic).
• mentoring, volunteering programs, knowledge exchange initiatives.
• local pilot programs that bring seniors into schools, community centers, digital hubs, so that the bond is strengthened.

I believe, we must build bridges — not separate silos.

PP:
Another keyword is dignity and respect. How will those values appear concretely in senior policy or program priorities you will support?

GS:
Dignity and respect must guide every action. That means:

• ensuring programs do not stigmatize or patronize seniors — they must empower, not pity.
• promoting inclusive design: accessibility standards, removing barriers (physical, digital), respecting diversity of languages, cultures, disabilities.
• allocating funding to care, prevention, well-being initiatives that preserve autonomy, quality of life, social connections.
• ensuring the voice of seniors is heard in policy design, not merely as passive recipients but as co-designers.

When seniors feel respected and dignified, they will engage more, express their needs, and be part of solutions.

PP:
Because participation and social cohesion are central to ESU, how do you foresee the financial role supporting these?

GS:
Participation and social cohesion are the lifeblood of ESU’s mission. Social cohesion means no one is left behind — and our finances must reflect that inclusive focus.

PP:
You also emphasise lifelong learning and digital inclusion. How do you plan to integrate those priorities into ESU’s financial strategy?

GS:
Lifelong learning and digital inclusion are cornerstones in today’s Europe. For our member Associations, I propose:

• dedicating funds to develop learning platforms for seniors: languages, digital skills, arts and culture, civic education.
• supporting blended and hybrid models (online + in-person) so seniors in remote areas or with mobility constraints can participate.
• funding training of trainers, local “digital facilitators,” peer-support networks to teach seniors use of devices, online services, combating digital exclusion.
• investing in equipment, software, access subsidies where needed (e.g. in associations lacking resources).

These investments are not marginal — they are essential for inclusion, empowerment, and bridging generational divides.

PP:
Finally, looking ahead: what do you hope ESU will achieve during your mandate as Treasurer — and how do you invite our members to join you?

GS:
I hope that by the end of my mandate:

• ESU will have a robust, transparent, sustainable financial base, enabling bold projects across Europe.
• We will see measurable advances in digital inclusion, senior participation, intergenerational connectivity, and well-being initiatives.
• Member associations will feel supported — not just institutionally, but as partners — able to propose, to experiment, to innovate.
• ESU will be known at European level not only for advocacy, but for credible implementation, trustworthiness, and impact.

To our members I say: this is a shared journey. Bring your ideas, your local experiments, your energy. Let us innovate together. I, together with the President and Secretary General, will always be open for your proposals, your feedback, your constructive scrutiny. Let us make finances a tool — not a constraint — for a Europe in which seniors stand tall, in dignity, in solidarity, in engagement.

Patrick Penninckx:
Thank you, Gnanam, for this inspiring conversation. We look forward to working together in this new phase of ESU’s life, building bridges across generations and across Europe.

Gnanam Seminck (GS):
Thank you, Patrick. It is a great honour to have been unanimously elected as Treasurer of the ESU. For me, this role represents a deep sense of trust; not only in my professional background, but also in my commitment to cooperation and transparency within our organisation.

My motivation to take on this responsibility comes from a strong belief that a sound and well-managed financial foundation is essential for the sustainability and impact of the ESU. As Chair of the local section in Oudenaarde, I have seen first-hand how important it is to handle resources carefully while still enabling ambitious projects that bring people together and inspire them.

At the same time, I am deeply aware that such commitments can only be possible with a strong support network at home. Balancing my professional and political responsibilities; as Chair of CD&V Oudenaarde, member of the Provincial Party Council of CD&V East Flanders, and participant in the local platform Iedereen9700; would not be feasible without the unwavering support of my husband and our two children. I am truly grateful to them for their patience, understanding, and encouragement, which allow me to dedicate myself fully to this new European role.

A quote :

“As Treasurer of the European Seniors Union, I am committed to strengthening intergenerational solidarity, managing our resources transparently and responsibly, and giving seniors an active voice in shaping the future of our continent.”