Green group in EU Parliament elects Reintke and Eickhout as new co-chairs

Brussels – No surprises from the eve of the vote, but now it is official: at its constitutive meeting this morning (June 19), the Green Group elected German MEP Terry Reintke and Bas Eickhout of the Netherlands as co-chairs for the tenth term of the EU Parliament. “We are in good hands on our way to beat the far-right and make Europe greener, more social, and more democratic,” is the message of the 52-member group to the two new leaders for the upcoming legislature. 

“I am very happy and honored to have been re-elected to lead the Greens/Ale Group for the next legislative term. I would like to thank my group for the trust they have placed in me,”  Reintke said, who was confirmed as co-chair after almost two years already in this role (in October 2022, she replaced the resigning Ska Keller). Eickhout, who succeeds Philippe Lamberts (who did not run again as an MEP) added: “I look forward to using our common energy to build and shape Europe’s green and progressive agenda,” said the Dutch MEP, speaking of “responsibility and commitment” for the next five years of the legislature “with the future of the Green Deal at stake and the war raging in Ukraine.”

Both Reintke and Eickhout strongly emphasize the need to ensure a “reliable and democratic majority” in the European Parliament without the far right: “The shift to the right in this Parliament and many other places in Europe is very worrying and the Greens/Ale Group will fight tirelessly for democratic values, the rule of law, and fundamental rights,” the German MEP made clear, appealing for “responsibility” to the other groups that will hold the parliamentary majority (Popular, Social Democrats, and Liberals) as well. The Dutch colleague remarked that “we also want to be the antidote to the extreme right,” confirming an agenda set on the themes of green transition, employment, a “sustainable industrial strategy,” the rights of women, Lgbtqi+ people, “and all those who want to live freely in Europe,” and the “strengthened” rule of law. Yesterday (June 18), the European Free Alliance (EFA/ALE) group in the EU Parliament – which is associated with the Green Group – elected Diana Riba i Giner as its new President.