The unique democratic project of the European Union has fascinated me since my first speech as a schoolboy visiting the European Parliament’s plenary chamber. During my studies in Berlin, I was involved as a Young European Federalist, and in two semesters abroad in New Delhi I was able to understand Europe even better from the Indian outside perspective. After my diploma in political science in 2010, I worked for 2 1/2 years in the office of the Green member of the Bundestag Lisa Paus during the financial crisis on European and financial policy. During the legislative period 2014-2019, I headed the office of MEP Sven Giegold and already dealt with the content of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO). Since July 2019, I have been heading Daniel’s office and work mainly in the Constitutional Affairs Committee with a focus on lobby transparency and integrity of the EU institutions, the future of the EU and the rule of law. I have been a member of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen since 1998, co-opted to the Federal Working Group on European Policy (BAG Europa) and delegated to the European Green Party (EGP). I am also a member of the union ver.di, the nature conservation organisation BUND and the Flemish sister party Groen.

Through my political-legal bachelor studies in Maastricht and Toulouse, I developed a particular interest in the question of how public institutions can be made more democratic and transparent. During my Master’s studies in human rights and democratisation in Venice and Hamburg, and subsequent stations at the United Nations, Amnesty International and the Open Society Foundations, I further explored this question. Since the beginning of the parliamentary term, I have been supporting Daniel’s work in the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), focusing on misuse/corruption of EU funds and attacks on the rule of law.

I studied political science and peace and conflict studies in Leipzig, Marburg and Coimbra (Portugal) – and diligently learned Arabic on the side. After a short excursion into development aid, I landed in journalism in 2014. I reported on security issues and the refugee crisis from Berlin, Hungary, Austria and Iraq for various print and online media. After that, I worked for Europe’s biggest digital news app. I also advised several German daily newspapers for a Dresden-based start-up. The question: How can we inspire even more readers for good stories? When I’m not behind a laptop or notepad, I’m travelling around Europe by train.

I have been supporting Daniel’s team as organisational office manager since June 2022. Before that, I worked for two and a half years as a parliamentary assistant for the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament. I have been living in Belgium for more than 10 years and have worked for the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP), the Goethe Institute and the Austrian Embassy. I graduated in Cultural Studies (B.A.) and European Studies (M.A.) from the European University Viadrina (Frankfurt/Oder). I was able to familiarise myself with the topics of anti-corruption and lobby transparency during an internship at Transparency International Germany. My working languages are German, English and French. In the team, I am responsible for all organisational and administrative matters, in particular for coordinating appointments, answering enquiries and planning travel.

Since July 2019, I have been working in Daniel’s office on issues in the Rhineland and throughout Germany, as well as on internal party communication.

I am studying applied geography in the Master’s programme at RWTH Aachen University. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Aachen and at the German University of Technology in Muscat/Oman.

I have been a member of the Greens since 2014. Since 2020 I am part of the parliamentary group of the GREENS in the council of the city of Aachen.

In my function as a councillor, I represent the city of Aachen in various supervisory and control bodies. I am a full member of the following bodies:

• AWA Supervisory Board
• ZEW Supervisory Board
• District Police Council

I am also a member of the nature conservation organisation NABU and the DLRG, the world’s largest volunteer lifeguard association.