Leadership and Financial Matters

The GA opened with administrative topics. Rodoula Demetriades introduced herself as the candidate for the position of non-Executive Board Member of Volt Europa. While the vote is still ongoing (until the evening of 29 June), her confirmation is highly likely due to the absence of other candidates.

Treasurer Christophe Quirynen presented Volt Europa’s 2024 annual financial accounts, which were submitted to the community for approval.

Shine 29

Janko Heineken and Sebastian Lemanczyk outlined Shine 29, Volt Europa’s strategic roadmap for the next four years and beyond. A key milestone: achieving full Europarty status. The broader goal is a united, federal, and democratic Europe.

A major theme of the presentation was the urgent need for improved communication across all levels of the organization. Volt’s new internal communication platform, Haiilo, is expected to address the currently fragmented and often chaotic internal communication. Thomas Lambert gave a practical introduction to Haiilo during the final part of the event.

While Shine 29 provides helpful direction, one could note that more transparency about its development—such as who contributed to the strategy cycle—would have been welcome.

Internal Audit and Structural Imbalances

Johann W. von Krause presented the report of the Internal Audit Commission for FY 2024. Among others two structural challenges were highlighted:

The Disproportionate national representation, because most members are from the Netherlands and Germany, which raises concerns about internal democratic balance, and statutory misalignment. The statutes of Volt Europa and its national chapters are not always harmonized. Moreover, joining a national chapter automatically confers Volt Europa membership—without Volt Europa having direct input in the process.

The GA also marked the end of the term for Benjamin van der Kwaak and Johann W. von Krause, leaving Leonardo Peppel as the sole internal auditor for now. New elections are expected at the upcoming GA in Frankfurt.

Governance Reform and other tools

Tetske Welling outlined a planned overhaul of Volt Europa’s governing documents—including the Statutes, Internal Rules, and the Integrity Syllabus—to better harmonize structures across all chapters. In this context, Jochem Sprenger explained how different types of membership affect Volt’s evolution into a Europarty.

The GA concluded with the presentation of the newly developed Elected Officials (EO) Handbook and Code of Conduct, designed to provide practical guidance and ethical standards for Volt’s officeholders and the above mentioned presentation of Haiilo.

 Closing reflection:

The online event had an average of around 150 devices logged in to the livestream (based on several checks). Though scheduled to end at 14:00, it ran an hour over. Many presentations featured dense, crowded slides, which made it difficult to follow the content and engage at the same time. Asking questions in the live chat was therefore challenging. No discussion was sparked.

It was an informative event, but one without space for political debate. The recording is helpful for understanding what’s happening in Volt Europa and how to use Haiilo. In my ideal world, we would have this type of GA as a preparatory session before holding a real GA with space for open, informed discussion.

(text: Ulrike Fuss)

Ulrike Fuss and Niek Verheij will take the lead in the coming year. And they do so with great enthusiasm. Keep a close eye on this page, because they can't wait to meet you at a Christmas market or other occasion. In the meantime, outgoing city lead André Terhorst received some very deserved thank-you chocolates. He has been a familiar face to all members of Volt Leuven in recent years and many of us wouldn't be active volunteers, if it wasn't for him.

Our country needs reforms and investments to ensure a prosperous future Everyone understands the need to balance the budget, but thinking only in terms of austerity is playing with fire. Austerity policies that lead to a recession are an expensive mistake. While pensions must be reformed to remain sustainable and a fair tax reform with lower labor taxes is essential, we must not forget the other side of the coin: investing in growth, sustainability, and innovation. Only then can we truly move forward.

Take the Draghi report: a clear wake-up call. Europe is falling behind. While economic growth thrives in the United States and China, we remain stuck. Without massive investments, we risk losing our prosperity. The climate transition and green growth are not obstacles but levers for success. Investing in clean energy, the circular economy, and smart infrastructure creates jobs and progress while securing a healthier, more livable future.

Smart reforms, bold investments
Reforms don’t have to be painful—on the contrary. Look at the four-day workweek, tested in Ireland and the United Kingdom. With unchanged salaries and shorter workweeks, companies report a slight increase in productivity. Even more impressive: burnout cases dropped by 71%, and sick days by 65%. In Belgium, 9% of workers were absent due to illness every day in the first half of 2024. That’s an immense cost for our social security system. If a shorter, healthier workweek is possible, why not try it? Fewer sick days, more well-being, and net savings: that’s smart reform.

Reforming also means cutting unnecessary regulations and bureaucracy. Simplifying procedures not only makes life easier but also gives businesses and citizens the room to grow and innovate. Removing excessive administrative burdens—“cutting red tape”—is a logical step toward greater efficiency.

Stronger Together: European Cooperation Is Key
Greater European cooperation and shared investments are vital to improving efficiency and securing our future. Only by working together can we tackle challenges like the climate crisis and economic stagnation. At the same time, we must avoid counterproductive measures like border controls, recently proposed by countries such as the Netherlands and Germany. These policies not only harm our economy but also undermine the free movement that Europe stands for. Cooperation isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Public transport: more than just savings
The same goes for public transport. The drastic cuts currently on the table for trains are a disaster waiting to happen. It’s not just ecologically counterproductive but also economically shortsighted. Good public transport pays for itself. Every kilometer traveled by train or bus is cheaper for society than one traveled by car. Fewer traffic jams, less air pollution, and better accessibility. This isn’t an expense; it’s an investment that delivers.

Choose a future that inspires
Our country deserves better than a policy that stands still. Reforms are necessary, but without investments, it’s like bailing water out of a sinking ship. Green growth and the climate transition don’t just address today’s crises; they lay the foundation for a vibrant economy tomorrow. What we need now is courage. The courage to invest in what matters. The courage to not only save but to build. For a future that inspires.

No seats in Leuven, but we have no regrets. Because together we put Volt on the map in our fantastic municipality! We are not going to sit still in the coming years. Please keep an eye on this page. Come to our meetings. Become a volunteer. Because in six years we will be there again. Bigger and stronger. And maybe next time, you will be a candidate!

Volt Leuven is here to stay!

You are allowed to sign if you are a resident of Leuven. Even if you do not have Belgian nationality, but are registered to vote, you may sign.

Have you signed already? Ask your boyfriend, girlfriend, neighbor, mother, grandfather, former roommate... Together we will reach 100 signatures in no time. And afterwards? Onwards to the elections!

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• Oktober 13 , 2024 - Elections! Let's bring some democracy!