12 Facts About Silvana Koch-Mehrin

In 1998, Koch-Mehrin founded her public affairs consultancy, Conseille+Partners, together with Frank Schwalba-Hoth.

Silvana Koch-Mehrin rose to the ranks of the federal party executive under the leadership of FDP chairman Wolfgang Gerhardt in 1999.

In parliament, Silvana Koch-Mehrin was a member of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets.

Silvana Koch-Mehrin was a substitute member of the Committee on Budgetary Control and a member of the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union.

Until May 2011, Silvana Koch-Mehrin served as Vice Chairwoman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

In October 2012, Silvana Koch-Mehrin announced that she would not stand in the 2014 European elections but instead resign from active politics by the end of the parliamentary term.

Silvana Koch-Mehrin remained a member of the European Parliament, and continued to use the doctor title.

Silvana Koch-Mehrin later announced that she would relinquish her seat on the committee.

In 2013, Silvana Koch-Mehrin founded the Women in Parliaments a Global Forum, a worldwide network of female politicians.

In 2005, Silvana Koch-Mehrin called for all EU Member States to follow Germany in banning public displays of Nazi symbols.

Silvana Koch-Mehrin's idea was roundly rejected by a number of countries who saw it as a restriction of free speech.

Silvana Koch-Mehrin met her partner James Candon at the end of a stage both completed at the European Commission.