Volker Klinges, born in 1962, studied Economy and Social Sciences in Namur and Leuven. He worked for five years at Siemens in Brussels. Since 1990, he works at the joint secretariat of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Eupen-Malmedy-Sankt Vith, of the employers’ organisa-tion in the German-speaking Community of Belgium and of the East Belgian Office for Family Benefits. In 1992, he became General Manager of the aforementioned entities. He is the voice of the employers in the Economic and Social Council and in the Employment Office of the German-speaking Community of Belgium. Because of the East Belgian border zone, he is active in differ-ent working groups of the German Chambers of Commerce (IHKs), in the employers’ organisa-tions of the Meuse-Rhine Euregio and of the Grande Région, as well as in the Economic and So-cial Councils of both these border regions.