Bureau

The Presidents lead the Intergroup and represent it both inside and outside of the European Parliament. Co-presidents take daily decisions on the Intergroup’s work and both Co-Presidents and Vice-Presidents decide on the Intergroup’s priorities and work programme.

Our Co-Presidents

Kim van Sparrentak

Member State: Netherlands
Group: Greens/European Free Alliance

Kim van Sparrentak is a Member of Groen Links and was elected as MEP for the Greens/EFA in 2019. She became Co-Chair of the LGBTI Intergroup in November 2022.

She is a member of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, as well as substitute in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.

Furthermore, she is member of the Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand.

Staff member in charge of LGBTI issues: Linde Rozemeijer

Read more: Kim van Sparrentak’s profile on the European Parliament website

Marc Angel

Member State: Luxembourg
Group: Socialists & Democrats

Marc Angel has been a Member of the European Parliament since December 2019 and became Co-President of the LGBTI Intergroup in January 2020. On 18 January 2023, Marc was elected Vice-President of the European Parliament.

Marc has over 25 years of HIV/AIDS advocacy and was appointed UNAIDS Champion for the 90-90-90 targets. In 2022, Marc received the UNAIDS Ambassador role for the 10-10-10 targets.

He is a member and the former first Vice-Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and Member of the Committee on Petitions. In addition, he is substitute in the Committees on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

In addition, Marc is a member of the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly and the Delegation to the EU-Chile Joint Parliamentary Committee. He is substitute in the Delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China.

Staff member in charge of LGBTI issues: Daniel Constantinides

Read more: Marc Angel’s profile on the European Parliament website

Our Vice-Presidents

Maria Walsh

Member State: Ireland
Group: European People’s Party

As a member of Fine Gael in Ireland, Maria Walsh belongs to the European People’s Party Group in the European Parliament. Maria became a Member of the European Parliament in 2019 and Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup in December 2019.

Maria is member of the Committees on Employment and Social Affairs and Culture and Education. She is substitute in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

Equally, she is member of the Delegation for relations with the United States and substitute in the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

Staff member in charge of LGBTI issues: Barry McCarthy

Read more: Maria Walsh’s profile on the European Parliament website

Pierre Karleskind

Member State: France
Group: Renew Europe

Pierre Karleskind become a Member of the European Parliament in 2019 as a member of La République en Marche party in France and the Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament. He was elected Vice-President of the Intergroup in January 2022.

Pierre chairs the Committee on Fisheries, and is a Member of the Committee on Budgetary Control and substitute member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism. Pierre is in addition Member of the Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community and the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly. Pierre was the initiator of the LGBTIQ Freedom Zone resolution in the European Parliament.

Staff member in charge of LGBTI issues: Victor Belaud

Read more: Pierre Karleskind’s profile on the European Parliament website

 

Malin Björk

Member State: Sweden
Group: The Left

A Member of the European Parliament since July 2014, Malin Björk is part of the Left Party of Sweden. She belongs to the The Left Group. She became Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup in November 2015.

In her parliamentary work, Malin is member of the Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and Foreign Affairs. She is substitute in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

Malin is also a member of several Parliament Delegations: relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil, Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan, EU-Uzbekistan and EU-Tajikistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and for relations with Turkmenistan and Mongolia and to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly. She is substitute in the Delegations for relations with Mercosur and with South-Africa.

Staff members in charge of LGBTI issues: Alina Anderberg

Read more: Malin Björk’s profile on the European Parliament website

Fabio Massimo Castaldo

Member State: Italy
Group: non-attached

Fabio Massimo Castaldo was elected to the European Parliament in the 2014 elections for the Five Star Movement. He became Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup in December 2015. He was the 14th Vice President of the European Parliament during the first half of the 9th parliamentary term.

In his parliamentary work, Fabio is a member of the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Security and Defence. He is substitute in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Sub-Committee on Tax Matters.

Fabio is a member of two Delegations: for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union, including the EU-Morocco, EU-Tunisia and EU-Algeria Joint Parliamentary Committees and to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly.

Staff member in charge of LGBTI issues: Francesca Acampora

Read more: Fabio Massimo Castaldo’s profile on the European Parliament website

Our previous Bureau Members

Terry Reintke

Member State: Germany
Group: Greens-EFA

Terry Reintke is a Greens/EFA MEP since July 2014 and became Co-Chair of the LGBTI Intergroup in November 2017. In 2022, she was elected Co-President of the Greens-/EFA Group, leaving the Intergroup Co-Presidency. Terry has a longstanding history in LGBTI activism and the fight for equal rights.

Read more: Terry Reintke’s profile on the European Parliament website

 

Liesje Schreinemacher

Member State: the Netherlands
Group: Renew Europe

Liesje Schreinemacher was Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup during 1,5y between 2020 and 2022. She then became the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

Read more: Liesje Schreinemacher’s profile on the European Parliament website

Sophie in ‘t Veld

Member State: the Netherlands
Group: Renew Europe

Sophie in ‘t Veld was Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup during 2 terms until October 2020. She also founded and chaired the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics and chairs in addition the European Parliament Working Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights since 2009.

Read more: Sophie in ‘t Veld’s profile on the European Parliament website

 

 

Sirpa Pietikäinen

Member State: Finland
Group: EPP

Sirpa Pietikäinen is a Finnish Member of the European People’s Party. As a Member of the European Parliament, she replaced Alexander Stubb in 2008 and was since re-elected continuously. She became Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup in 2014 and ended her term in December 2019.

Read more: Sirpa Pietikäinen’s profile on the European Parliament website

 

Tanja Fajon

Member State: Slovenia
Group: Socialists & Democrats

Tanja Fajon was a Member of the European Parliament between July 2009 until 2022, when she became Slovenia’s Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs. She was Vice-President of the Socialist & Democrats group and became Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup in 2014, ending her term in December 2019.

Read more: Tanja Fajon’s profile on the European Parliament website

 

Seb Dance

Member State: United Kingdom
Group: Socialists & Democrats

Seb Dance was a British Member of the S&D Group. As a Member of the European Parliament. Seb Dance was first elected in 2014, having finished his mandate in January 2020 due to Brexit. During his last term, he was Vice-Chair of the ENVI Committee.

Read more: Seb Dance’s profile on the European Parliament website

 

Daniele Viotti

Member State: Italy
Group: Socialists & Democrats

Daniele Viotti was a Member of the European Parliament during the 8th legislature. He became Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup in 2014 and ended his term in July 2019.

Read more: Daniele Viotti’s profile on the European Parliament website

 

Ulrike Lunacek

Member State: Austria
Group: Greens-EFA

 

Ulrike Lunacek was an MEP and Co-President of the Intergroup between 2009-2017, Vice-President of the EP between 2014-2017. She authored the Lunacek report on the EU’s Roadmap against homophobia and discrimination. In the first half of 2020 she was State Secretary for Cultural Affairs in the Austrian government and is now freelancing.

Read more: Ulrike Lunacek’s profile on the European Parliament website

 

Michael Cashman

Member State: United Kingdom
Group: Socialists & Democrats

Michael Cashman was an MEP between 1999-2014, having been one of the founding members of the LGBTI Intergroup. Michael served in several key committees to LGBTI issues during his three mandates (e.g. LIBE, DROI, DEVE). He is currently a Member of the House of Lords in the UK.

Read more: Michael Cashman’s profile on the European Parliament website