From 1991 until 1994, Welle worked as Head of Foreign and European Affairs for the CDU party in Bonn,[2] serving under successive Secretaries General Volker Rühe and Peter Hintze.

He has promoted a long-run shift in the use of staff resources towards policy work, and away from back-office administration and traditional overheads, notably translation and interpretation.

[10] On 23 May 2010, British newspaper Sunday Times, citing an anonymous source, alleged that Welle intended to provide an Apple iPad to each of the [then] 736 MEPs.

The article suggested that earmarking money for iPads was not the best example of austerity, at a time when EU member states were suffering severe budget deficits.

[11][12] Welle, however, has promoted moves to a 'paperless' Parliament, developing, for example, an 'eCommittee' facility, whereby Members can table amendments and undertake some other aspects of committee work electronically.