From student leader to co-leader of the German Greens
In short: Before rising to the heights of German politics, Franziska Brantner was a student activist in Paris and New York. Today, she navigates the complexities of international trade and European affairs, moving from the halls of the European Parliament to the heart of the German Bundestag.
Born in 1979, Franziska Brantner's political trajectory began with youth activism, joining the Green Party Youth in 1996 at age 17. Her education was highly global; following her time at Freiburg im Breisgau's bilingual Deutsch-Französisches Gymnasium, she completed a political science degree at both Sciences Po in Paris and Columbia University in New York City in 2004. She also gained international experience while working for the Heinrich Böll Foundation in both Tel Aviv and Washington D.C.
Brantner's career has been defined by a focus on European and international policy. She served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2013, where she was a key negotiator for the European External Action Service. Her expertise in foreign affairs led to her election to the German Bundestag in 2013, representing the 274th district of Heidelberg. She also served as a substitute member for several committees, including those focused on budgets and gender equality. Additionally, she acted as a spokeswoman for the Greens/EFA group regarding foreign affairs.
Between 2021 and 2025, Brantner held the role of Parliamentary State Secretary within the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action during Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition. In this role, she managed portfolios including trade policy, digitization, and European affairs. Alongside Felix Banaszak, she has acted as co-leader for Alliance 90/The Greens since 2024. Her leadership extends to the Supervisory Board of Germany Trade and Invest, a position she has held since 2022.
Beyond her legislative roles, Brantner has held various advisory and board positions, including membership in the European Policy Centre and the European Council on Foreign Relations. Her work has often intersected with critical global issues, such as the UN's resolution 1325 on women's rights and the management of the European migrant crisis. Furthermore, she has been involved with the Elie Wiesel Network for the prevention of mass atrocities. She also serves on the advisory board for the Jacques Delors Centre at the Hertie School.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Franziska Brantner
- Also: Wikidata — Franziska Brantner · CC0
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