Terry Reintke

Terry Reintke is a German politician who rose from the youngest female MEP to co-lead the Greens EFA Group in the European Parliament.

Terry Reintke Early Life and Political Awakening

Terry Reintke was born on May 9 1987 in Gelsenkirchen a city in North Rhine Westphalia Germany that has long been associated with coal mining and industrial heritage.

Growing up in a region marked by economic transformation she witnessed firsthand the social challenges that arise when traditional industries decline and communities must adapt to new realities.

Her interest in politics emerged at the age of 14 when she became involved with the Young Greens in Germany driven by concerns about social justice environmental protection and equal rights for all citizens.

Reintke pursued higher education in political science studying at the Free University of Berlin and the University of Edinburgh where she gained international perspective on European governance and policy making.

During her university years she became increasingly active in youth political movements serving on the executive board of German Green Youth from 2008 to 2009.

Terry Reintke Rise to European Parliament Leadership

In 2014 Terry Reintke was elected to the European Parliament at the age of 27 making her the youngest female MEP at that time and marking the beginning of her influential career in Brussels.

She joined the Greens European Free Alliance political group and quickly established herself as a dedicated advocate for women rights gender equality and anti discrimination policies across the European Union.

During her first term she served on multiple committees including the Committee on Women Rights and Gender Equality the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Regional Development.

Her expertise and commitment led to her appointment as the Greens EFA coordinator on the FEMM Committee where she pushed for progressive policies on family recognition and support for queer movements throughout Europe.

In 2019 she expanded her portfolio by moving to the Committee on Civil Liberties Justice and Home Affairs where she became her parliamentary group shadow rapporteur on Poland focusing on rule of law issues.

Co Chair of the Greens EFA Group

Reintke served as deputy chairwoman of the Greens European Free Alliance group from 2019 to 2022 under the leadership of co chairs Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts gaining valuable experience in parliamentary group management.

In October 2022 she was overwhelmingly elected as Co President of the Greens EFA Group a position that placed her at the helm of one of the most progressive political forces in the European Parliament.

Her election reflected the confidence her colleagues had in her vision for a greener more equal and socially just Europe capable of addressing the climate crisis while protecting vulnerable communities.

As Co Chair she became a member of the Conference of Presidents giving her significant influence over the Parliament agenda and strategic direction during a period of unprecedented challenges including the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis.

She was re elected to this leadership position in June 2024 for the tenth parliamentary term continuing her work to advance green policies and progressive values across the European Union.

Policy Priorities and Lasting Impact

Throughout her career Reintke has championed intersectional approaches to discrimination recognizing that gender equality must be pursued alongside racial justice LGBT rights and protection for people with disabilities.

She co founded the ALL of US alliance an alliance of progressive MEPs advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights ensuring that women across Europe have access to comprehensive healthcare and bodily autonomy.

As co chair of the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights she has been a vocal defender of queer communities fighting against rising anti LGBT rhetoric and legislation in several EU member states.

Her work on the EU UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly since 2021 has focused on maintaining strong ties between the European Union and the United Kingdom while safeguarding the rights of citizens affected by Brexit.

Reintke has also been a strong advocate for the Erasmus plus mobility scheme initiating a letter in 2021 calling for Scotland and Wales to be able to rejoin the program recognizing the transformative power of educational exchange.

Her commitment to fighting sexualized AI deepfakes targeting women politicians demonstrates her understanding of emerging threats to democratic participation and her willingness to use regulatory tools to protect vulnerable groups.

Terry Reintke journey from a politically engaged teenager in Gelsenkirchen to one of the most influential green leaders in Europe exemplifies the power of sustained activism and principled leadership in shaping a better future for all Europeans.