Bas Eickhout, the Dutch co-chair of the Greens group in the European Parliament has resigned after admitting to “relationships that were not appropriate”.

Stepping down after 17 years in frontline EU politics, the MEP said he would leave both the Parliament and his leadership role within the Greens/EFA group.

“I have recently reflected critically on my own actions. I have not always done the right thing in the past,” he wrote. “I have had relationships that were not appropriate for my role. I should not have done that, and I take responsibility for it.

Eickhout, 49, recently made his relationship with 25-year-old Austrian Green MEP Lena Schilling public.

A statement by the Greens highlighted that the group had taken”allegations of breaches of the code of conduct very seriously.”

“A professional, open working environment for everyone is essential and our group has acted accordingly. We will continue to work on building a culture of respect, trust and openness in the workplace,” said the statement.

“We understand the impact of this announcement and we would like to highlight that the group has resources available for those affected by these decisions.”

An MEP since 2009, Eickhout became one of the Greens’ most influential policy operators in Brussels, shaping key climate files and emerging as a leading defender of the EU Green Deal and energy transition.

Eickhout’s exit comes ahead of the Parliament’s 2027 midterm reshuffle, when all key leadership posts, including the chairs of the political groups, will be back on the negotiating table.

His departure also comes at a difficult moment for Europe’s Greens, who are struggling against a broader rightward shift across the bloc and disappointing domestic results in the Netherlands, where the Dutch Greens have failed to regain momentum amid fragmentation on the left and the rise of the far right.

(bw)