Dick van DijkDick van Dijk

Name : Dick van Dijk
Age : born in 1969
Country : Belgium, although born in the Netherlands and lived there until 2003.
Civil state : Married with Heidi
Employment : Accountant/civil servant working at the European Commission
Political party : ChristenUnie (the Netherlands)

Dick, since a few months you are a board member of ECPM. When did ECPM cross your path?

I was elected as board member on the 22nd of September 2007. Before that I entered the ChristenUnie board in April 2007. My first contacts with ECPM were already during a congress in Leuven/Heverlee (Belgium) in 2005. It was not that far from the place where I live and I was interested to see what ECPM did look like.

What can ECPM expect of you?

I'm enthusiastic about what ECPM has reached already and even more enthusiastic about the future. ECPM can develop towards a meaningful movement when we are able to attract other Christian parties and persons.
I would like to contribute to that by helping to professionalize the internal organisation of ECPM further and by trying to get EU grants for financing of our activities.

How did you get involved in politics?

I decided, when I became 25 years old, that as a matter of principle someone from 25 years should be a member of a political party, it took me another few years before I really became a member. I joint ChristenUnie in 1996 or 1997.

What is your role in your party?

I was a active member at local level, since I joined ChristenUnie. Since April 2007 I'm International Secretary of ChristenUnie. Due to my job, at the European Commission, do I have some international experience which I want to use to serve ChristenUnie and ECPM.

What is your vision on Europe?

José Manuel Barroso the president of the European Commission is always stating that the European Union has brought peace, freedom and solidarity. I'm also in favour of the ‘European project'. Europe now is a complete different Europe then 50 years ago. No dictators on the Iberian peninsula, no iron curtain and rich countries which transfer funds to the poor countries. Of course are there still a lot of things to improve. The European Union could be more transparent, efficient and more democratic.

Why did you party become a member of ECPM?

ChristenUnie was one of the founding members of ECPM, and I would like to see the same progress for ECPM as it has seen for itself the latest years!!

What are your hobby's?

My first preference next to my job is my family (my wife and my two daughters), then I have my local church, ChristenUnie and ECPM, which take all my (free) time.

Is there a Bible passage that has got your heart?

Several, one of them is Luke 22:32 in which Jesus says to Peter: ‘But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; It feels as a personal message to me as well.

What or who annoys you?

Injustice annoys me very much and fighting injustice is a driving force for me. Why richness and prosperity for few and poverty for many? Why unequal treatment for equal people?

By what or who do you get inspired?

By the biblical message that there is prosperity for people who do not deserve this from themselves.
By my family and my two small daughters which are, as all small children are, unbiased in there attitude and unconditional in their love.