The co-chair of the Greens has unexpectedly resigned from the European Parliament

Brussels – Bas Eickhout, co-chair of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, has announced his resignation as an MEP. 

“I have been reflecting critically on my actions in recent times,” he said in a press release on Wednesday, as reported by POLITICO. “I haven’t always done the right thing in the past. I have had relationships that were not appropriate for my role. I shouldn’t have done that, and I take responsibility for it. This reflection, together with the realisation that the party is entering a new phase, has led me to this decision.” 

Last week, POLITICO reported in its morning newsletter that Eickhout, who is 49, had told colleagues that he was in a relationship with his fellow MEP Lena Schilling, 25, the youngest MEP.