Stefaan Vercamer Reflects on his Presidency
Bruges
One Year at the Helm - Stefaan Vercamer Reflects on his Presidency of the European Seniors’ Union
One Year into His Role as Secretary General of the ESU
Published by the European Seniors’ Union – June 2025
President Stefaan Vercamer sits down with Secretary General Patrick Penninckx to reflect on his first year at the ESU, his motivations for engaging voluntarily with the Union, and how his distinguished career at the Council of Europe informs his work today.
Stefaan Vercamer: Patrick, it’s been nearly a year since you took up your role as Secretary General of the European Seniors’ Union. What motivated you to take on this new voluntary commitment?
Patrick Penninckx: Thank you, Stefaan. After retiring from my formal duties at the Council of Europe, I felt a strong urge not to step back from public life but to contribute in a new, meaningful way. The ESU offered the perfect platform to continue advocating for democratic values, inclusion, and human dignity—principles that have guided me throughout my professional life. Seniors are an integral part of our societies, and I wanted to help ensure their voices are not only heard but help shape Europe’s future.
Vercamer: You bring a wealth of experience with you. Can you share a bit about your 35-year career at the Council of Europe and how that shaped your current engagement?
Penninckx: Certainly. My career at the Council of Europe spanned more than three decades, with a strong focus on the Information Society, democratic institutions, and media freedom. In the last ten years of my mandate, I led the Information Society Department, addressing key digital challenges—from AI and data protection to online disinformation and cybercrime. This background made me acutely aware of how digital developments affect all generations—and how crucial it is that seniors are not left behind. That’s a key reason I chose to support the ESU: to ensure older citizens remain informed, empowered, and central to political life.
Vercamer: Since stepping into your role, you’ve already helped bring strategic focus to the ESU. What have you found most challenging?
Penninckx: What I find most challenging—but also most urgent—is the need to expand our work beyond the day-to-day operational running of the organisation. We need to reach out to new senior organisations, particularly those affiliated with the EPP family, not only within the EU Member States but also in neighbouring countries. That requires investment in time, networks, and resources—none of which are unlimited.
A second key challenge is strengthening our cooperation with EPP “sister” associations such as YEPP, EPP Women, and EPP SME. I’m pleased to say we’re making progress: together with the Robert Schuman Institute, we are organising a joint intergenerational conference in Budapest in April 2026.
Third, I want to deepen our ties with AGE Platform Europe—at both the structural level, through participation in the General Assembly and Council, and within the specific Task Forces created by AGE. From this autumn onwards, I’ll be representing ESU in the AGE Council, and I consider it an important platform to voice our concerns and contribute to shared policy goals.
Vercamer: That sounds like a significant agenda. Are there other strategic partnerships you’re working on?
Penninckx: Yes, and they’re crucial to our visibility and impact. One key partner is the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies (WMCES). Our cooperation has been excellent, particularly through our relationships with its President, Director, Policy Director Peter Hefele, and many of their researchers. Together, we’re organising events and producing meaningful outputs, including our upcoming publication on 30 Years of ESU, which will be launched this September. We’re also preparing joint studies focused on demography, ageing, and the future of social cohesion in Europe.
We’re also collaborating with academic institutions. The Seniors’ Summer Academy, scheduled for September in Bruges, is a good example of how we aim to deepen our intellectual contribution by bringing together seniors and academics to explore issues like ageing, intergenerational fairness, and lifelong learning.
And let’s not forget our longstanding partners: the Robert Schuman Institute and Foundation, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, EZA, and EUCDW. Working more closely with these friendly organisations is essential—we cannot reach our objectives alone.
Vercamer: That’s a strong network of cooperation. What structural challenges do you see within the ESU?
Penninckx: A major challenge is the limited financial support we receive. I’ve raised this already with the EPP last autumn, and it remains a pressing concern. If we want to grow, reach out, and deliver impact, we must secure more stable and sufficient resources.
Another challenge is governance and internal cohesion. During our Presidency meeting in Bratislava, we adopted the Bratislava Presidency Principles, which are designed to strengthen the involvement of Vice-Presidents in both representational and substantive roles. This will allow us to act more collectively and strategically as a team.
Vercamer: What would you say is your personal priority for the coming year?
Penninckx: My key goal is to bring more substance to everything we do. I want the ESU to not only speak for seniors but to contribute to serious thinking on Europe’s social and democratic future. I was particularly honoured to be invited by European Commissioner Glenn Micallef to join the Coalition on Digital Inclusion, which will feed into the Commission’s upcoming Intergenerational Fairness Strategy. That work aligns closely with my new role on the Council of AGE Platform Europe, and it reflects how seniors must be part of every major policy conversation—not only as beneficiaries, but as contributors.
Vercamer: Patrick, it’s clear your energy and experience are already making a major difference. Thank you for your dedication and leadership.
Penninckx: Thank you, Stefaan. It’s a great privilege to serve the ESU and our members. Together, I believe we can truly strengthen the voice and role of seniors in shaping the future of Europe.