Transparency

    Meetings with lobbyists

    Lobbying is not always a bad thing. Human rights activists, peace activists or oppressed minorities also need associations or groups to represent them in politics. Lobbying is part of it, but must not become backroom politics.
    That is why our group has voluntarily committed itself to transparency. Under the following link you can follow up with which lobby groups or representatives I have met so far. However, there is one exception and that is activists who are politically persecuted and are not safe. In order to protect these people, such meetings are not listed publicly.

    Click here for the directory

    Office expenses

    For us at Greens/EFA, transparency is a matter close to our hearts. Of course, this also applies to our own work. Each MEP receives a monthly lump sum for office expenses ("GEA lump sum", "GEA" stands for "General Expenditure Allowance"). As Greens, we want to keep a record of its use. Below you may find an overview of my expenses in 2021:

    Last year, I received 54,912.87 € from the European Parliament to cover expenses for my parliamentary work. I spent 44,298.41 €, with the remaining 10,457.59 € carried over to 2022.

    The largest item in 2021 was „Representation“, with expenses mainly linked to the #SHEcurity campaign, e.g. the creation and dissemination of the report and the publication event for the index, which again took place digitally in 2021. Costs for events or for visits from abroad / from my constituency also belong to this category. I am pleased that these types of events were possible again in 2021, albeit on a reduced scale.

    It is also important to me that my staff and I can continue our individual training. Expenses in the category „Further education“ cover language courses, coaching and access to specific information on the topics of feminism and peacekeeping.

    „Travel“ includes my and my team members’ travel expenses. Last year, this encompassed parts of my trip to Iraq and to the Munich Security Conference, as well as overnight stays in my constituency or in other European countries. The European Parliament also grants me a travel budget, but at 4 517 € in 2021, it is too tight for a politician with a focus on foreign policy.

    „Telephone costs“ refers to my and my staff’s mobile phone contracts and mobile data tariffs. We switched to teleworking last year and want to stay prepared for it in the future.

    The item „Office supplies“ covers everything from folders to paper, paper clips and software licences. I also subscribed to a number of publications last year.

    „Administrative expenses“ are bank charges as well as my contribution to the office and travel expenses of our 4 joint staff members of the German members of the Green Group (130 € per month).

    I hope this list helps you to understand what I used my “GEA lump sum” for in 2021. Of course, there is a receipt for every expense. In addition, I have my expenses audited annually to ensure they are correct, which results in the issuing of the Voluntary Confirmation on the use of the General Expenditure Allowance.

    I will be happy to provide further information in the event of justified enquiries.