In a statement on Wednesday, the Greens group said it respected and understood Eickhout’s decision to quit.
“We take any allegations of breaches of the code of conduct very seriously,” the group said. “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.”
It added: “We understand the impact of this announcement and we would like to highlight that the group has confidential counsellors and other resources available for those affected by these decisions.”
The move comes as all leadership positions in Parliament will be up for grabs in January 2027 for the so-called midterm reshuffle, including political group chairmanship. Eickhout’s Green-Left party in the Netherlands is entering its final phase of a merger with the Dutch Social Democrats into a new party called “PRO.”
“I have given it a lot of thought as to whether I want to carry on after the mid-terms, and I have come to the conclusion that I no longer have the energy for it,” he said. “With the establishment of PRO on the horizon, we are entering a new era. The party deserves representatives who will throw themselves into it with full energy.”
Eickhout has been an MEP since 2009, was the lead candidate of the European Green Party in the 2024 EU election and has been the Greens group leader in the Parliament since then.
Eickhout’s resignation triggers a leadership race within the Greens, as Baltic and Eastern European lawmakers try to increase their representation in leadership positions within the political family following gains in the 2024 election.