About MEP Sophie in 't Veld (ALDE)

Sophie in ´t Veld (46) is in her second term as a member of the European Parliament for the Dutch social-liberal party D66. 

Born in 1963 (Vollenhove, the Netherlands) In ´t Veld lived from the age of seven, after a three year long stay in Surinam, in the Dutch cities of The Hague and Delft. After her university-level study in medieval history, Sophie worked as freelancer in private companies and public institutions. From 1993 she worked as assistant to former MEP Johanna Boogerd. Sophie is married and lives in Brussels.

Against euro scepticism

In ´t Veld is concerned about the growing euro scepticism. She is specially surprised to see the role of leading (Dutch) politicians in this perspective. “Some of them say that Europeans are no longer concerned with freedom and stability. They say that they are only interested with the business side of the European project. As if Europe is only about a common market! I was born after the Second World War, but I am still aware of the fact that Europe has provided us with over fifty years of peace and stability. People in Europe are getting the wrong picture of what Europe is really about.”

Enlightened Europe

Sophie in ‘t Veld believes in a Europe that is based on the values of the Age of Enlightenment. To her the European Constitution shouldn’t consider the European Union solemnly based on the Judo-Christian traditions. “That is an aspect I consider to be a part of everyone’s private life.” To In ‘t Veld the contributions of the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations and the presence for many centuries of the Islam in large parts of Europe, are also a base of present day Europe. “A choice for just mere Judeo-Christian values in the European Constitution is a shortcoming.”

True European Unity

After the enlargement with fifteen former Eastern-Europe Member states, the European Union faces her biggest challenge ever. To the ALDE-MEP the challenge that lies ahead is not that of taking away economic differences, but in building a new joint cultural identity. “The new countries have a totally different economic and cultural background. Integration on a cultural level is in my views equal of importance as to integration on an economic level.”

The question if the recent EU-enlargement has also defined the definitive borders of the Union is for Sophie in ‘t Veld hard to answer. “I can’t answer yes or no to that particular question. I can’t come up with a certain criterion to decide which country should or shouldn’t be able to join the European Union.” At least there should be some discussion on this subject in the near future. D66 is for Turkey being able to join.

True political choices  

To Sophie in ‘t Veld politics revolve around making choices. To her the outcome of the choices made in Brussels should be social-liberal and pro-European policies. She is not afraid to be portrayed as a euro lunatic. “It is true that I am a member of the one and only true pro European Dutch party and Parliamentarian Group. And that is what makes us distinctly different from all the other parties. But that doesn’t make me blind to all that is not right in the Union. Pro doesn’t mean that we are not critical towards the European Project. Of course we take a good look at costs involved in taken political measurements, the quality of legislation and the eventual outcome. Taking a critical view is part of how politics works.”

Biography Sophie in 't Veld MEP

born on the 13th september 1963 (Vollenhove, The Netherlands)

Profession

Member of European Parliament since July 2004 ( ALDE)

Post in the European Parliament

• - 

  Member of the Committee on Economic & Monetary Affairs (ECON)
• - 

  Substitute member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice & Home Affairs (LIBE)
• - 

  Vice-president of the Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights (LGBT)
• - 

  Member of FEMM Committee (Women's rights and gender equality)
• - 

  Member of the EU-Turkey delegation
• - 

  Member of the temporary committee Economic Crisis (CRIS)
• - 

  Working Group Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
• - 

  Working Group HIV/AIDS and Development

Former professional activities

       96 - 04 Secretary General ELDR Group Committee of the Regions

       94 - 96 Political assistant to former MEP Johanna Boogerd

       93 - 94 Trainee Political advisor in local authority

       90 - 93 Translator

Education

• - 

  M.A. in History 
• - 

  Post-graduate course Management and Public Administration 
• - 

  A-standard level (VWO Montessori Lyceum, the Hague) 

Former political activities

• - 

  Chairman D66 Belgium 
• - 

  Secretary D66 Delft
• - 

  Substitute local councillor Delft

Languages spoken

English, French, German, Italian, Greek, Dutch: fluent

Spanish: basics

Finnish, Swedish: basics

For more information on my contributions (in English) to the debates in the European Parliament: click here

Office of Sophie in 't Veld

Brussels Office

European Parliament

Office ASP

10G157

Rue Wiertz 60

B-1047 Brussels

Tel: +32 2 284 77 96

Fax: +32 2 284 97 96

Strassburg Office

Parlement Européen

Bât. Winston Churchill

M02090

Allée du Printemps

B.P 1024

F-67070 STRASBOURG

Tel: +33 3 88 17 57 96

Fax: +33 3 88 17 97 96

Employees

Sophie Bots

Policy Advisor                     

sophie.bots@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: +32 2 283 77 96

Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) committee

Delegation EU-Turkey

Intergroup Privacy 

Branimira Tzvetanova

Policy Advisor

branimira.maldeghem@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: +32 2 283 77 96

ECON committee

CRIS

Delegation EU-Russia

Coordination plenary sessions

ALDE bureau

ELDR Party

EP Financial Services Platform

Elzelien van der Steen 

Policy Advisor

elzelien.vandersteen@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: +32 2 284 77 96, mobile +32 477 45 42 84

FEMM

Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian rights (LGBT)

Working Group on Sexual and reproductive rights

Working Group HIV/AIDS and Development

Working group on the seperation of Religion & Politics

Party-contacts D66

Payroll

Nathalie van Koot

Press officer

yvonne.doorduyn@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: +32 2 284 77 96, mobile +32 484201518

Anne Breure

Trainee

Positions

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