The co-chair of the Greens group in the European Parliament (EP), Bas Eickhout, has announced his immediate resignation as an MEP after acknowledging conduct he said was incompatible with his position.
Eickhout, who has served in the European Parliament since 2009 and led the Greens group following the 2024 elections, said he had reflected on his actions and concluded that he should step down:
I have critically reflected on my own actions in the past period.
I had relationships that did not fit with my role. I should not have done that and I take responsibility for it.
He added that he did not always act appropriately and that his decision was also influenced by internal developments within his political family. “With the establishment of PRO on the horizon, we are entering a new era,” he said, adding that the party needed representatives fully committed to its next phase.
The Greens group in the EP said it respected his decision, noting that it takes any allegations of breaches of the code of conduct seriously. “A professional, open working environment for everyone is essential,” the group said, adding that it would continue to support internal safeguards and confidential counselling resources.
Eickhout’s Dutch party PRO, formed through a merger between GroenLinks and the Labour Party, also confirmed the resignation. It said the departure was partly linked to his failure to report previous workplace relationships, while also noting his personal decision not to continue in leadership roles.
The resignation follows reports that Eickhout had disclosed to colleagues a relationship with Austrian MEP Lena Schilling. However, he said the decision to leave had “nothing to do with the relationship with Lena,” according to a spokesperson.
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