Verpoorten has also revealed he will not look for another term as vice-president of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

"I chose not to seek re-election due to my professional commitments and mainly as I want to spend more time with my family," he said.

"I have two fantastic young kids who both deserve even more attention from their father and my spouse and I look forward to spending more time together as well.

"The timing is right to pass the baton as we have, as a team, built a great foundation to further grow both organisations and as I know that there are a lot of good people around in Europe at this moment to take over the leadership."

The Belgian has been on the BEC Board of Directors since 2007 and President since 2014. 

He has also been vice-president of the BWF since 2009. 

Verpoorten was a key driver behind the recent proposed change to badminton's scoring system, which failed to get the two-thirds majority support necessary to pass at the most recent BWF Annual General Meeting in Bangkok last month.

The change would have seen a best-of-five games system introduced, with 11 points required to win.

At present it is first to 21 and a best-of-three.

The result had no impact on his decision to step down, Verpoorten claimed.

"I already communicated to the BWF President - Poul-Erik Høyer - last year that I would very likely not seek re-election as BWF vice-president," he said.

"The change of the scoring is in my mind an important change for the enhancement of the game, and I still stand behind the proposal and feel we have, as a leadership group, made a strong case.

"But the membership at this time didn't feel strong enough about the need for change, which is a decision I fully understand."

Verpoorten is due to continue as both President of the BEC and vice president of BWF for Europe until the next BEC Annual Delegates Meeting.

This is scheduled to take place in Kyiv in the Ukraine, on April 27 next year.