Undisclosed workplace relations sees European Greens lose key leader

Members of the European Parliament were stunned this week after one of the most prominent figures in the European Greens announced his resignation following revelations that he failed to disclose workplace relationships in line with internal party rules.

Bas Eickhout, co-president of the Greens–European Free Alliance group and leader of the Dutch GroenLinks delegation in Parliament, informed Green lawmakers and staff of his decision during a regular meeting in Brussels on May 19. In a statement later shared on the BlueSky platform, Eickhout admitted wrongdoing.

“In the past, I did not always do the right thing. I have had relationships that were not appropriate for my role. I should not have done that, and I take responsibility for it.”

The Greens’ group secretariat was informed earlier this week about a previously undisclosed workplace relationship involving a staff member, according to unnamed sources that talked to the Politico journal. 

Under the party’s code of conduct, relationships between Members of the European Parliament and staffers are permitted as long as they are formally disclosed. After the matter came to light, Eickhout decided to resign.

Politico's Brussels Playbook had unveiled last week that Eickhout, 49, informed party colleagues that he was in a relationship with Lena Schilling, 25, currently the youngest member of the Parliament.

However, Eickhout denied that his resignation was connected to that relationship. “It has nothing to do with the relationship with Lena,” he told the publication through a spokesperson.

Progressive Netherlands — known as PRO — the political movement into which Eickhout’s GroenLinks party is in the process of merging, later indicated there had been multiple undisclosed cases.

“He made this decision in part because he did not report past workplace relationships,” the party said in a statement.

Eickhout was first elected to the European Parliament in 2009 but became one of the most recognizable Green politicians in Brussels during the 2019–2024 parliamentary term. He played a major role in shaping the EU’s Green Deal legislation, advocating for stricter vehicle emissions standards and supporting the planned 2035 phaseout of new combustion-engine car sales. He also represented the Greens at several international COP climate summits.

Following the 2024 European elections, Eickhout was appointed co-chair of the Greens group and tasked with helping reunify a divided political faction after disappointing election results and the rise of stronger right-wing parties across Europe.

By Nazrin Sadigova