Tervuren (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Thomas Geyns, mayor of Tervuren, has been appointed to the Federal Council of Mayors, joining leaders like Philippe Close, Els Van Doesburg, Willy Demeyer, and Benoit Lutgen to represent diverse communities.
As VRT News reported, Thomas Geyns, the mayor of Tervuren and head of the local political group For Tervuren, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, has been appointed to the federal Council of Mayors.
The council brings together the mayors of Belgium’s largest cities, including Antwerp, Brussels, Liège, and Hasselt. Geyns said he was surprised by the decision, as he did not expect to be chosen for such a role among leading figures from major urban centres.
What role will Tervuren’s mayor Thomas Geyns play in the Federal Council of Mayors?
The appointment is notable because it gives a smaller municipality a place in a council usually led by big cities. Geyns mentioned his experience in municipal policy and writing on local government as possible reasons for his appointment. He said that he would utilise the role to bring up the cases of the small towns and ensure their concerns are on the national agenda.
Thomas Geyns, mayor of Tervuren, has stated that he wants to bring the experiences of his municipality into the Federal Council of Mayors. He pointed out that Tervuren belongs to a recently merged police zone that covers both a wide rural area and part of the Flemish periphery.
He said that these challenges resonate with many small municipalities throughout Flanders and should not be overlooked. Geyns emphasised that he would be speaking not only for Tervuren, but for the whole Druivenstreek region, making sure local issues were presented at the highest level.
Besides Geyns, new members include Philippe Close (PS, Brussels), Els Van Doesburg (N-VA, Antwerp), Willy Demeyer (PS, Liège), and Benoit Lutgen (Les Engagés, Bastogne). This mix brings together leaders from large metropolitan cities and smaller towns, creating a balance between urban and rural voices.
The Federal Council of Mayors was established in 2001 to improve cooperation between the federal government and local authorities. Since then, it has brought together mayors from Belgium’s largest cities to advise on key issues such as security, mobility, and urban development. Over time, the composition of the council has been adjusted to maintain both political and regional balance.
In 2014, after the federal elections, new members were appointed to strengthen the representation of major cities. The latest update in 2024 expanded the council further, adding representatives from large metropolitan areas including Brussels, Antwerp, and Liège, as well as smaller municipalities like Tervuren and Bastogne, to ensure a broader geographical and political mix.
