People

Chairman of the MEP Water Group
for 2024-2029

Hildegard Bentele has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2019, representing the Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (CDU). She is Vice-Chair of the Committee on Development and holds seats in the Industry, Research & Energy (ITRE) and Environment, Public Health & Food Safety (ENVI) Committees. Additionally, she is a substitute member for the delegations on Israel and Montenegro. Before joining the European Parliament, Ms. Bentele held various roles in the German Foreign Office and the Berlin House of Representatives. Read more.

Co-chair of the MEP Water Group

Stine Bosse is a Danish politician and businesswoman serving as a Member of the European Parliament, representing the Danish Moderate Party in the Renew Europe Group. She has been an influential figure in the corporate world, notably as CEO of Tryg from, and has held numerous board positions, including at Allianz and TDC. Stine Bosse is known for her commitment to social issues and has chaired several organizations, such as PlanBørnefonden and the Danish European Movement.

Co-chair of the MEP Water Group

Tonino Picula is a Croatian politician serving as a Member of the European Parliament, representing the Social Democratic Party of Croatia within the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D). He previously held national office as Croatia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mayor of Velika Gorica. In the European Parliament, Picula is recognized for his leadership on foreign affairs and enlargement policy, notably as the Chair of the Delegation for Relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. He also advocates for maritime issues and regional development, having served as rapporteur on the EU’s islands strategy.

Pernille Weiss-Ehler was a Member of the European Parliament in the European People’s Party, from Denmark, from 2019 to 2024, and Chairwoman of the MEP Water Group. Mrs. Weiss-Ehler was a member of the Industry, Research & Energy Committee (ITRE) and of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). Mrs. Weiss-Ehler was also a substitute member in the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM) and Special Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic (COVI). Since 2019, Mrs. Weiss-Ehler has been a board member of SME Europe and in 2022 she was a member of the STOA board.

Esther De Lange was the Vice-Chair of the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament for the 2019-2024 mandate, being responsible for relations with national parliaments. E. De Lange is currently a member of the Committee of Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). On previous terms, she was a member of the committee for economic and monetary affairs (ECON), Agriculture and rural development (AGRI) and substitute member of the committee for industry, telecom, research and energy (ITRE). She was the chairwoman of the MEP Water Group from 2014 to 2019.

Richard Seeber was a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 until 2014. During his service, he was a member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and a substitute member in the Committee on Regional Development (DEVE). His work was especially focused on the topic of water. In 2007 the European Parliament appointed Richard Seeber as rapporteur for flooding and respectively for droughts and water shortage in 2008. In 2010, R. Seeber initiated the MEP Water Group, the first Intergroup on Water of the European Parliament, being the president from 2010 to 2014.