On the afternoon of Wednesday 08 October 2025 the WOW-Europe Council elected a new President and a new board for WOW-Europe.
Mikael Arendt Laursen was unanimously elected as president of WOW-Europe. Wolfgang Pischinger, who held the position of President the past two mandates, was elected as Vice-President. António Manuel Carita Franco was elected as Treasurer.
Before the elections Wolfgang Pischinger explained the background for the changing of positions of Mikael Arendt Laursen and himself. “As a result of responsibilities in my home country Austria I increasingly had the feeling that I could not contribute to WOW-Europe as I would like to. And it is for that reason that we started thinking of changing things. The decision to change positions was taken in good order by both Mikael Arendt Laursen and myself and I am very pleased that Mikael to take the position of WOW-Europe President. I have full confidence in him”, Wolfgang Pischinger said. “WOW and WOW-Europe are very important to me and to my organization the FCG/GPA. WOW-Europe deserves a President who can put even more focus than I did on the important issues of today and the further development of the organization. I will of course continue to contribute in the best way possible and I will support my successor as much as I can. I do hope that the Council will elect in favour of this change of positions”, Wolfgang Pischinger concluded.
After the elections took place the new WOW-Europe Board for the period 2025-2027 consists of the following persons:
- President: Mr. Mikael Arendt Laursen (Denmark)
- Vice-President: Mr. Wolfgang Pischinger (Austria)
- Treasurer: Mr. António Manuel Carita Franco (Portugal)
- Member Board: Ms. Tatjana Roeder (Germany)
- Member Board: Mr. Erik Maas (Netherlands)
- Member Board: Ms. Marija Jovanovic (Serbia)
- Member Board: Ms. Cornelia Pöttinger (Austria)
- Member Board: Mr. Paolo Gonçalves Marcos (Portugal)
- Member Board: ? (Netherlands)
Not for election:
- Executive Secretary: Mr. Bjørn Anders van Heusden (Netherlands)
Erik Maas who was co-opted as member of the WOW-Europe board shortly after the elections at the last Council meeting in Vienna in 2022 was formally elected by the WOW-Europe Council.
Paolo Gonçalves Marcos, President of the Portuguese trade union Sindicato Nacional dos Quadros e Técnicos Bancários – SNQTB was elected as member of the board for the first time.
This also means that a number of colleagues are no longer a part of the WOW-Europe board. Ike Wiersinga retired from her work in CNV and thus was no longer eligible. Rolf Weber, who had been Treasurer for many years is no longer working for Krifa and thus was not eligible. Already a year-and-a half ago Rolf Weber was replaced as Treasurer by Tanya Sørensen, also from Krifa. Tanya Sørensen decided to not be a candidate for elections. The board of WOW-Europe as well as WOW thanks them all for all they have done for the trade union movement in general and the WOW in particular.
There is still one position open. This position will be filled in by a colleague from CNV. As soon as the details are final the name will be made public.
With this new team WOW-Europe expects to further the work on issues that are most urgent and relevant today. And to improve the organization even more, so that it is ready for the years to come.
