{{short description|Dutch politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Bas Eickhout | honorific_suffix = MEP | image = File:1718705148917 20240617 EICKHOUT Bas NL 002.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2024 | office1 = Co-president of the Greens–European Free Alliance | term_start1 = 16 July 2024 | term_end1 = 20 May 2026 | alongside1 = Terry Reintke | predecessor1 = {{ubl|Terry Reintke|Philippe Lamberts}} | office2 = Member of the European Parliament | term_start2 = 14 July 2009 | term_end2 = 20 May 2026 | constituency2 = Netherlands | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|10|8|df=y}} | birth_place = Groesbeek, Netherlands | death_date = | death_place = | party = Dutch:<br />GroenLinks<br />EU:<br />European Green Party | spouse = | children = 1 | alma_mater = Radboud University | website = [http://www.baseickhout.eu www.baseickhout.eu] }} '''Bas Eickhout''' (born 8 October 1976) is a Dutch politician who was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2009 until his resignation on 20 May 2026. He is a member of the GreenLeft, part of the European Green Party.
==Education and early career== Eickhout was born in 1976 in Groesbeek, Gelderland,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-10 |title=Home {{!}} Bas EICKHOUT {{!}} Leden {{!}} Europees Parlement |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/nl/96725/BAS_EICKHOUT/home |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=www.europarl.europa.eu |language=nl}}</ref> and he attended high school at the Cobbenhagen College in Tilburg. Between 1994 and 2000, he studied chemistry and environmental science at Radboud University in Nijmegen. During his studies, Eickhout was an intern at research information centers in Nijmegen and in the United States. He also served as chairman in the Nijmegen Association of Chemistry Students Sigma,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oude Besturen|url=http://www.sigma.science.ru.nl/web/index.php?pagina=62|url-status=dead|date=14 December 2008|website=sigma.science.ru.nl|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724164437/http://www.sigma.science.ru.nl/web/index.php?pagina=62|archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref> later a member of the Nijmegen University Council.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wie is Bas?|url=http://www.baseickhout.eu/wie-is-bas/cv|url-status=dead|website=Bas Eickhout Official Website|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081214193452/http://www.baseickhout.eu/wie-is-bas/cv|archive-date=14 December 2008}}</ref><ref name="nd">{{Cite news |url = https://www.nd.nl/nieuws/politiek/1219977/met-europarlementarier-eickhout-door-de-brusselse-wandelgange |url-access = subscription |date = 12 April 2024 |last = Brandemann |first = Ilse |access-date = 14 April 2024 |language = nl |website = Nederlands Dagblad |title = Met Europarlementariër Eickhout door de Brusselse wandelgangen. 'Ik wil rechtse huisjes omver schoppen' |trans-title = Through the halls of Brussels with MEP Eickhout: 'I want to destroy right-wing dreams' }}</ref>
Since 2000, Eickhout has worked as a researcher at the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. He worked on several projects which had to do with transnational environmental problems such as climate change, and he was the institute's spokesperson on the sustainability of biofuels.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Biodiesel in vervoer schaadt milieu|url=http://www.nrc.nl/europa/article1874572.ece/Biodiesel_in_vervoer_schaadt_milieu|url-status=dead|date=17 June 2009|website=NRC|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227034716/http://www.nrc.nl/europa/article1874572.ece/Biodiesel_in_vervoer_schaadt_milieu|archive-date=27 February 2009}}</ref> He also worked for the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).<ref name="nd"/>
==Political career== thumb|left|Introduction video of Bas Eickhout. Between 2008 and 2009, Eickhout was a member of the committee chaired by Bram van Ojik which wrote the new party platform.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bas Eickhout|url=http://verkiezingen2009.groenlinks.nl/node/14119|url-status=dead|website=Groen Links|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417232330/http://verkiezingen2009.groenlinks.nl/node/14119|archive-date=17 April 2009}}</ref> He is a member of the GreenLeft delegation to the European Green Party.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Europese Groene Partij|url=http://www.baseickhout.eu/wie-is-bas/europese-groene-partij|url-status=dead|website=Bas Eickhout Official Website|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927093718/http://www.baseickhout.eu/wie-is-bas/europese-groene-partij|archive-date=27 September 2009}}</ref>
Before the 2009 European Parliament election, Eickhout was one of five candidates for the top position on the GreenLeft list. Other contenders were Senator Tineke Strik, Amsterdam city counselor Judith Sargentini, former MEP Alexander de Roo, and Niels van den Berge, assistant to Kathalijne Buitenweg. Eickhout campaigned on environmental issues.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Visie en Standputin|url=http://www.baseickhout.eu/visie-en-standpunten|url-status=dead|website=Bas Eickhout Official Website|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223051003/http://www.baseickhout.eu/visie-en-standpunten|archive-date=23 February 2009}}</ref>
With 25% of the votes, he lost to Judith Sargentini.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Referendum|url=http://verkiezingen2009.groenlinks.nl/referendum|url-status=dead|website=Groen Links|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319064211/http://verkiezingen2009.groenlinks.nl/referendum|archive-date=2009-03-19}}</ref> His candidacy for the party list was supported by former MPs Arie van den Brand and Wijnand Duyvendak.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wij Steunen Bas|url=http://www.baseickhout.eu/wij-steunen-bas|url-status=dead|website=Bas Eickhout Official Website|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312002517/http://www.baseickhout.eu/wij-steunen-bas|archive-date=2009-03-12}}</ref>
After his election to the European Parliament, Eickhout became a member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and substitute for the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.<ref>{{Cite web|title=GroenLinks dik tevreden over verworven posities in Europarlement|url=http://europa.groenlinks.nl/node/28498|url-status=dead|website=GroenLinks|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109120004/http://europa.groenlinks.nl/node/28498|archive-date=9 January 2014}}</ref> In this capacity, he represented the Parliament at the 2013 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Warsaw,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Climate change: EP delegation to attend Warsaw summit|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20131115IPR24738/climate-change-ep-delegation-to-attend-warsaw-summit|website=European Parliament|date=15 November 2013}}</ref> the 2014 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Lima,<ref>{{Cite news|first=Dave|last=Keating|title=MEPs prepare to join climate talks|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/meps-prepare-to-join-climate-talks/|website=Politico Europe|date=4 December 2014}}</ref> and the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.<ref>{{Cite web|title=European Parliament Delegation to COP26, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 9-13 November 2021|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20211011RES14630/20211011RES14630.pdf|website=European Parliament|date=9 November 2021|access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref> He has also served as the Parliament's rapporteur on the EU's target for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions (2011),<ref>{{Cite news|first=Jennifer|last=Rankin|title=MEPs to fight over boosting the EU's emissions cut to 30%|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/meps-to-fight-over-boosting-the-eus-emissions-cut-to-30/|website=Politico Europe|date=23 February 2021}}</ref> the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (2014),<ref>{{Cite news|first=Dave|last=Keating|title=MEPs may challenge free ETS permits|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/meps-may-challenge-free-ets-permits/|website=Politico Europe|date=17 September 2014}}</ref> renewable energy rules (2017),<ref>{{Cite news|first=Sara|last=Stefanini|title=Biofuel options for aviation running low|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/biofuel-options-for-aviation-running-low-sustainable-aviation/|website=Politico Europe|date=19 June 2017}}</ref> sustainable finance (2019)<ref>{{Cite news|first1=Mehreen|last1=Kahn|first2=Leslie|last2=Hook|title=EU gives green light to rule book on sustainable investments|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d8505b3e-1780-11ea-9ee4-11f260415385|website=Financial Times|date=5 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Jonas|last=Ekblom|title=EU lawmakers tweak proposed rules on sustainable investments|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-finance-climate/eu-lawmakers-tweak-proposed-rules-on-sustainable-investments-idUSKBN1YL0ZS|website=WS|date=17 December 2019}}</ref> and CO<sub>2</sub> emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles (2024).<ref>Kate Abnett (10 April 2024), [https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/eu-parliament-approves-law-slash-trucks-carbon-footprint-2024-04-10/ EU Parliament approves law to slash trucks' carbon footprint] ''Reuters''.</ref>
Eickhout is also a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/about-us/members/|url-status=dead|website=Animal Welfare Intergroup|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831215301/http://www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/about-us/members/ |archive-date=31 August 2019}}</ref>
On 24 November 2018, Eickhout was elected as one of two leading candidates of the European Greens for the 2019 European Parliament election alongside Ska Keller.<ref>{{Cite web|title=European Greens elect leading duo|url=https://europeangreens.eu/news/european-greens-elect-leading-duo|url-status=dead|website=European Greens|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408093606/https://europeangreens.eu/news/european-greens-elect-leading-duo|archive-date=8 April 2019}}</ref> Under his leadership, GreenLeft won three seats, up from two in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Eline|last=Schaart|title=Timmermans' Labor wins Dutch EU election: exit poll|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/timmermans-netherlands-european-election/|website=Politico Europe|date=23 May 2019}}</ref> Both Keller and Eickhout later became the Green candidates for the office of President of the European Commission.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Niki|last=Blasina|title=Contenders emerge in race for the EU's top job|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0e2bde36-2943-11e9-a5ab-ff8ef2b976c7|website=Financial Times|date=11 March 2019}}</ref> He subsequently served as deputy chairman of the Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) group, under the leadership of co-chairmen Keller and Philippe Lamberts.<ref>{{Cite press release|title=Greens/EFA group positions elected|url=https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/greens-efa-group-positions-elected|website=European Greens|date=12 June 2019}}</ref>
Since 2021, Eickout has been part of the Parliament's delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Assembly, which provides parliamentary oversight over the implementation of the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.<ref>{{Cite news|first1=Hans|last1=von der Burchard|first2=Maïa|last2=de La Baume|title=European Parliament approves new joint EU-UK Brexit assembly|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-approves-eu-uk-brexit-assembly-cooperation-agreement/|website=Politico Europe|date=5 October 2021}}</ref>
Eickhout was chosen as the leading candidate on the shared GroenLinks–PvdA list for the 2024 European Parliament election after he had been nominated by the boards of both parties.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Daan|last=De Vries|title=Bas Eickhout met 96 procent van de stemmen verkozen tot lijsttrekker GroenLinks-PvdA bij Europese verkiezingen|trans-title=Bas Eickhout chosen as GroenLinks–PvdA leading candidate in European elections by 96 percent of the vote|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/politiek/bas-eickhout-met-96-procent-van-de-stemmen-verkozen-tot-lijsttrekker-groenlinks-pvda-bij-europese-verkiezingen~b0b9bcf3/|url-access=subscription|website=De Volkskrant|date=30 January 2014|access-date=31 January 2014|language=nl}}</ref> The European Green Party later chose him and Terry Reintke to steer its campaign for the election.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Louise|last=Guillot|title=Greens pick veteran MEP duo to lead EU campaign|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/terry-reintke-bas-eickhout-mep-green-party-european-parliament-election/|website=Politico Europe|date=3 February 2024}}</ref> Eickhout was a proponent of creating a European fund worth one percent of its GDP to invest in the industrial sector in order to increase the EU's competitiveness.<ref>{{Cite interview |url = https://fd.nl/politiek/1515758/als-je-alle-europese-industrie-overeind-wilt-houden-verspil-je-heel-veel-geld |url-access = subscription |date = 7 May 2024 |last = Eickhout |first = Bas |interviewer = Ria Cats and Mathijs Schiffers |access-date = 7 May 2024 |language = nl |website = Het Financieele Dagblad |title = 'Als je alle Europese industrie overeind wilt houden, verspil je heel veel geld' |trans-title = 'If you want to maintain all of Europe's industry, you will waste a lot of money' }}</ref> GroenLinks–PvdA received a plurality of eight seats in the Netherlands, and Eickhout received a fourth term.<ref name="eu24"/> He became his party's spokesperson for nature, environment, and agriculture, and he started serving as co-president of the Greens/EFA alongside Reintke.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/who-we-are/our-meps |website = Greens–European Free Alliance |access-date = 28 September 2024 |title = Our MEPs }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://groenlinkspvda.nl/onze-mensen/europees-parlement/bas-eickhout/ |access-date = 10 November 2024 |language = nl |website = GroenLinks–PvdA |title = Bas Eickhout }}</ref>
On 20 May 2026, Eickhout announced resigning from his position as MEP with immediate effect citing "I have had relationships that were not appropriate for my role", adding to a statement from his party that the group had taken "allegations of breaches of the code of conduct very seriously."<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.euractiv.com/news/top-green-mep-quits-brussels/ |website = Euractiv |access-date = 21 May 2026 |title = Top Green MEP quits Brussels }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.politico.eu/article/greens-chief-bas-eickhout-quits-eu-parliament-after-relationship-revealed/ |website = Politico |access-date = 21 May 2026 |title = Greens chief Bas Eickhout quits EU Parliament after acknowledging ‘relationships’ }}</ref>
==Personal life== As of 2024, Eickhout resided in both Utrecht and Brussels. He has a partner and a daughter from a previous relationship.<ref name="nd"/> He is currently in a relationship with Lena Schilling, an Austrian Green Party MEP, who is 24 years younger than him. According to a party spokesperson, the relationship was made public to avoid conflicts of interest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=red |title=Neue Liebe für Lena Schilling – Er ist 24 Jahre älter {{!}} Heute.at |url=https://www.heute.at/s/neue-liebe-fuer-lena-schilling-er-ist-24-jahre-aelter-120194775 |access-date=2026-05-13 |website=www.heute.at |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-13 |title=REGIO on the rocks |url=https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/brussels-playbook/regio-on-the-rocks/ |access-date=2026-05-13 |website=POLITICO |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Recognition== In December 2020, Eickhout received the Environment award at ''The Parliament Magazine''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s annual MEP Awards.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Brian|last=Johnson|title=MEP Awards 2020: Reaction and comment from our winners|url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/mep-awards-2020-reaction-and-comment-from-our-winners|work=The Parliament Magazine|date=2 December 2020|access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref>
== Electoral history == {{Incomplete list|date=June 2024}} {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|Electoral history of Bas Eickhout}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Year ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Body ! scope="col" colspan=2 rowspan=2 |Party ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |{{abbr|2=Position on the party list|Pos.}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Votes ! scope="colgroup" colspan=2 |Result ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |{{abbr|2=References|Ref}}. |- ! scope="col" |Party seats ! scope="col" |Individual |- ! scope="row" | 2024 | European Parliament | style="background-color:{{party color|GroenLinks–PvdA}};"| | GroenLinks–PvdA | style=text-align:right | 1 | style=text-align:right | 676,268 | style=text-align:right | 8 | {{yes2|Won}} | <ref name="eu24">{{Cite web |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/adviezen-en-publicaties/proces-verbalen/2024/06/19/proces-verbaal-van-de-uitslag-van-de-europees-parlementsverkiezing-6-juni-2024 |website = Dutch Electoral Council |language = nl |access-date = 19 June 2024 |format = PDF |date = 19 June 2024 |title = Proces-verbaal centraal stembureau uitslag verkiezing Europees Parlement Model P22-1 |trans-title = Central electoral council report of the results of the election of the European Parliament Model P22-1 |pages = 11, 12, 35 }}</ref> |}
==Bibliography== * {{Cite book |last = Eickhout |first = Bas |year = 2016 |isbn = 9789047708032 |title = Klimaatmores: Radicaal naar een andere norm |language = nl |trans-title = Climate mores: Radically to a different norm |publisher = Lemniscaat |place = Rotterdam }} * {{Cite book |last = Eickhout |first = Bas |author-mask = 6 |year = 2024 |isbn = 9789047716778 |title = Groen realisme: Strijdbaar voor een groene economie |language = nl |trans-title = Green realism: Fighting for a green economy |publisher = Lemniscaat |place = Rotterdam }}
==References== {{Reflist|3}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Bas Eickhout}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090323032449/http://www.baseickhout.eu/ Official Website] *[https://archive.today/20130106164815/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/expert/committees/view.do?language=DE&id=96725 profile] on europarl.eu
{{European Parliament MEPs, 2009-2014 (Netherlands) by party}} {{European Parliament MEPs, 2014-2019 (Netherlands) by party}} {{European Parliament MEPs, 2019-2024 (Netherlands) by party}} {{European Parliament MEPs, 2024–2029 (Netherlands) by party}} {{EP Political Group Greens–EFA}} {{EP Political Group Greens–EFA (2024–2029)}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eickhout, Bas}} Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:GroenLinks MEPs Category:GroenLinks politicians Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 2009–2014 Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 2014–2019 Category:Articles containing video clips Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 2019–2024 Category:Politicians from Utrecht (city) Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 2024–2029