Elly de Groen-Kouwenhoven (; born 23 December 1949 in The Hague as Elly Kouwenhoven, and now generally known as Els de Groen) is 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 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. Career Senior secondary teaching certificate French teacher (1970–1975) Writer, essayist and commentator Literary reviewer, children's books (1985–1992) Editor of the Algemeen Dagblad's children's newspaper (1986–1989) Has worked for 20 years on news magazines Author of various works of fiction and non-fiction for adults Her work over the last 20 years has placed a strong emphasis on Eastern Europe Unpaid adviser to the Dutch foundation 'Roma-Emancipatie' in Oss (since 2002) Various literary awards References External links European Parliament biography Parlement.com biography 1949 births Living people Dutch children's writers Dutch commentators Dutch educators Dutch women educators Dutch essayists Dutch journalists Dutch literary critics Dutch women literary critics 20th-century Dutch women writers 20th-century Dutch writers Europe Transparent MEPs MEPs for the Netherlands 2004–2009 21st-century women MEPs for the Netherlands Dutch women journalists Dutch women children's writers Dutch women essayists Writers from The Hague