born: 1968
one child
land list: Baden Württemberg

Office in Berlin
T.: +49 30 / 227 - 71480
F.: +49 30 / 227 - 76481
kerstin.andreae@bundestag.de

Spokesperson on economic policy

My interest in politics was sparked off by the issue of environmental protection and the peace movement. I joined the local section of the Greens after taking up my studies ofeconomics in Freiburg in 1990. I was on the managing committee of the Baden Württemberg Young Greens from 1991 to 1993 and was a member of the Freiburg managing committee from 1992-1999. In 1999 I was elected onto the Freiburg Council, were I served until my election to the Bundestag in autumn 2002.

Being a councillor was an important experience for me. This is where I learned the ropes of parliamentary work, which I found fascinating. It also became clear to me how important the local councils are to the co-existence of different social classes and cultures and the democratic debate between them.

During my first four-and-a-half years in the Bundestag I was a member of the financial committee, where I was representative of the Greens and spokeswoman on local and municipal policy. I have now switched to the closely related field of economic policy. Since February 2007 I have been the spokeswoman on economic policy of my parliamentary group in the Bundestag.

Green economic policy has always been characterised by an awareness of the connection between ecology and economics, and our approach here is to encourage competition between the best ideas and solutions. We are convinced that well-functioning markets and non-discriminatory competition can provide meaningful and efficient solutions to our social problems and to economic and ecological challenges. However, we also need a strong state in order to implement our aims of climate protection, equal distribution of wealth and education for all. We have always maintained that a healthy future economy can only be guaranteed through sustainable economics.

My high expectations of political service have not been disappointed. I very much enjoy my parliamentary duties, and constituency work is particularly important to me. This is where I am closest to the people and their problems. My continual contact to citizens, institutions and companies is a source of much insight, which flows profitably into my work at the Bundestag.

Committees

• Committee on Economic Affairs and Technology (sp. + m.)
• Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development (alt. m.)

Political CV

• Executive committee, Baden-Württemberg Young Green Alternative (1991-1993)
• Executive committee, Freiburg Alliance 90/The Greens (1992-1999) 
• Executive committee, Baden-Württemberg Alliance 90/The Greens (1999)
• Freiburg municipal councillor; special interests: economic and social politics (1999)