You are the candidate for Deputy President in the team led by Ali Nihat Yazici as candidate for the ECU presidency. How did you become involved with the development of chess in Europe?

Peter Rajcsanyi:

In the mid-1990s, the Hungarian Chess Federation appointed me as its delegate to the European Chess Union and to FIDE when the previous delegate retired. Soon after my appointment, I came forward with several suggestions regarding the ECU statutes and the financial structure of the organization, especially as regards increasing its income. The Hungarian Chess Federation organized an extraordinary meeting in Budapest where the delegates discussed the proposals of an ad-hoc committee whose chairman I was. Most of those proposals were accepted and that led to the ECU successfully negotiating a financial arrangement with FIDE,   achieving a striking improvement in its budgetary situation. Unfortunately, later on the ECU gave up a part of what we had achieved and did not renew the arrangements in the way that the ad-hoc committee had recommended.

Our team members have visited the majority of European federations. We have met with the presidents and board members of more than 50. We understand your needs - some of you require financial help, others are looking for technical and logistical support, as well as professional advice.

All Flags raised in the European Championships

‘R’ team brings a new approach to the European Championships.  Under our mandate, the 'We R Europe' Team declares that in the European Individual Chess Championship (both Open and Women), one free  entry with accommodation will be offered to each national chess federation. The aim of this move is to have all 54 flags present for the top European individual event and to increase its prestige. Do you want to learn how?

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Interview with Joan Antoni Obregon, Vice President of FEVA (Chess Federation of Andorra) and WE R Europe candidate for ECU Treasurer.

Journalist: What led you to be a candidate for Treasurer of the ECU?

Joan Antoni: First, as far as joining the team is concerned, I have been the ECU (and FIDE) delegate of Andorra for eight years, during which I have spent much time explaining to the representatives of other countries what we have been doing to develop the sport of chess in our very small country. When Ali Nihat Yazici invited me to join his team, which wants to revolutionize chess in Europe, especially among the smaller federations, I had to accept. Second, as for why Treasurer, well Andorra has certain tax advantages that we believe can be useful for the ECU.