ESO: coordinating body of the socialist senior organisations
The European Senior Organisation (ESO), the coordinating body of the socialist senior organisations was founded in Vienna in 2001 to defend the interests and needs of the elderly in Europe. S-Plus has been a member right from the start and since 2011 delivers both the president and the secretary-general and is therefore coordinating the operations.
We meet Marcel Geivaerts and Jos Bertrand in Bonheiden. Marcel ends his term in office as president due to health reasons. Jos seems to be the right person to succeed Marcel.
Marcel: “It all started 3 years ago for me, when Mark Elchardus could no longer combine a 2nd term as president with his passion, sociological research. It hasn’t been easy. But I immediately defined some goals I wanted to pursue. Making ESO bigger mattered a lot to me. I wanted more member organisations and, in particular, active members. Organisations which were ready and willing to help support and spread the ESO programme. In addition, I wanted to improve the relation with the Party of European Socialists (PES). Because I felt that the relations were somewhat diluted. And finally, I worked on our image and reputation. ESO had to be put in the spotlight.
Jos: “I want to continue along those lines. That is why I am concentrating on France now, and other Latin countries. Under your presidency, Marcel, the Confédération des Seniors Socialistes of the PS, entered their candidacy to become a member. They have now joined and this created an important opening in the history of ESO, because we are still not reaching enough South European countries. That is why I designated French as the 2nd business language, besides English. My other aim is to become more active in the European party of socialists and social-democrats (PES): in the work groups at the PES headquarters, with other partial organisations like the young socialists, women and LGBT community.”
Marcel, you have been in the driving seat for 3 years. Are you happy with what you have accomplished?
Marcel: “Yes, of course, I am. But, to be honest, it’s not all just my work. In the last 3 years ESO has experienced a positive growth thanks to the efforts of the administration and the active members. Every year we have welcomed 1 or 2 new member organisations. There is a new brochure. Our seminars are attracting more participants every year. The website is refurbished, but some work remains to be done to keep it up-to-date. I would have liked to complete a 2nd term, but unfortunately my health does not allow me to.
Jos: “Especially that expansion is quite an accomplishment. We definitely have to continue along that path, turn the ESO into the voice of the seniors among the European socialists and in Europe.”
Can I say that stopping with ESO has been a difficult choice, Marcel?
Marcel: “Certainly, you can. But the start was also difficult. Because Europe had never really been on my mind, and suddenly I was asked to become president. I did have to let it sink in. But once I started, I gave it my all. Because I won’t do it for anything less. That’s my nature. But my emergency admission to the hospital last year and the consequences it has had cannot be ignored. It was a matter of seconds, or I wouldn’t have been here now. It makes you stop and think things over. It was my son who made it clear to me that it was time to take things easier. Not so easy for me. Besides president of the S-Plus department Bonheiden and the S-Plus policy work group, I also work in a few other organisations and I am active in local politics. These associations and organisations are my life. Two things made me decide to quit the ESO mandate. The fact that I have had to cancel all ESO meetings in the past year and when I heard who the candidate was for my succession. Then I knew things were going to turn out well. Jos’ years of work experience at the European information centre and his contacts inside both the sp.a and the PS make him the perfect replacement. In other words, you are the reason, Jos, that letting go of ESO no longer hurts.
Jos: “That’s a lot of praise, but thank you for your vote of confidence. I will do my best. My experience in Europe and the European parliament is obviously a plus. I vividly remember how Hilde Hawlicek (old European member of parliament for the SPÖ) convinced the social-democratic fraction in the European parliament 15 years ago to found ESO.”
Why is ESO necessary in Europe?
Jos: “For me being old does not mean that you are ‘out’. The elderly have a role to play in society. Let’s not forget that for quite some time we just threw out lots of experience in our society. Not so long ago everyone was convinced that the elderly should make room for the younger generation. On the work floor you had to go on bridging pension and in politics you were considered a dinosaur after a few years. All you were allowed to do was consume, and then be quiet. But you cannot build a future without taking into account the experience from the past. How else can you learn from past mistakes? That is why it is important that older people fully participate. I notice that John Crombez, the sp.a. President, actively wants to involve the elderly, and I am glad to see that.”
But is our youth not the future? Where is ESO going to make the difference?
Jos: “Don’t get me wrong. Young people are indeed the future. I don’t want to revert to the young against old bias. We have to tackle problems together. My first idea is to set up a joint action on 28 April, The European day of Solidarity between Generations with the European Young Socialists (YES). Because I am convinced that young and old have to reinforce each other. Remember who made the European project big. The elderly of today. This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. Peace is essential to the European story. Through economic cooperation Europe has been in peace for more than 70 years now, the longest period ever since the Pax Romana in the 1st century. It is the responsibility of us, older generation, to remember this and to make sure that the next generations can continue to enjoy this peace, freedom and prosperity which the European project has enabled all these years. Of course there is still a lot to do: a better redistribution of the income derived from the economy through fair taxation and more social rights, more equality between people. But I want to go against the current anti-European trends which is fed by the populist fractions. Their final goal is to destroy the ideals of the Enlightenment. That is why I want to continue to defend the story of cooperation across borders as a condition for solidarity and equality. As socialists we know that solidarity and equality don’t come easily. We have to fight for it, across borders and not retreat because of nationalism, that has cost us enough misery and deaths in the past.”
Marcel: “The movement starting at the base is also very important. But the PES will also have to be convinced that ESO is just as important as PES Women and YES. We shouldn’t forget that the group of older people in Europe is gradually increasing.”
Jos: “Challenges enough, Marcel. That is why I want to make sure that ESO gets voting rights in PES. That would mean a big step forward. That is why we have to be more present and formulate our opinion. Discuss together and learn to understand each other. We have now successfully made the exercise in the context of a social Europe, resulting in a common ESO viewpoint. We are heading in the right direction.”
What is the importance of ESO for S-Plus?
Marcel: “Much more important than we think. Europe is becoming increasingly important. Maybe ESO should not exclusively be concerned with issues of the older generation. Why could ESO not have a say about defence or migration? Me, for example, I am in favour of a European defence. But not everyone shares my opinion. This means, of course, that S-Plus should also expand its attention. The Policy work group, which I currently preside, could perfectly discuss European topics. That is some self-criticism, because we are not doing it (yet).
Jos: “It is our responsibility to translate decisions at a European level for the man in the street. An organisation like S-Plus has an important task in that respect. Besides, I think S-Plus also has something to offer in Europe. Belgium has a quite unique solidarity system, which is based, historically, on the self-organisation of the working people: the cooperatives, the sickness fund, the trade union. Those form the basis of our social system, based on social consultation and political democracy. S-Plus can help to propagate this system of self-organisation in Europe. There is interaction. They both need each other.”
Steven Vanden Broucke
Steven Vanden Broucke, secretary-general of ESO, Marcel and Jos