Els de Groen
Elly de Groen-Kouwenhoven, generally known as Els de Groen, was a Dutch author and politician, who served as a Member of the European Parliament 2004–2009. She was a member of Europe Transparent, which sat with the Greens/EFA party group. As an MEP, she was a member of the European Parliament [Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs|Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs] and the Committee on Petitions, as well as a member of the delegation to the EU-Bulgaria Joint Parliamentary Committee and a substitute for the delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Europe. De Groen died on 19 October 2025, at the age of 75.
Career
- Senior secondary teaching certificate
- French teacher
- Writer, essayist and commentator
- Literary reviewer, children's books
- Editor of the Algemeen Dagblad's children's newspaper
- Worked for 20 years on news magazines
- Author of various works of fiction and non-fiction for adults
- Her work over 20 years placed a strong emphasis on Eastern Europe
- Unpaid adviser to the Dutch foundation 'Roma-Emancipatie' in Oss
- Various literary awards