European countries resist US push to scrap diversity and inclusion
initiatives
[April 01, 2025] PARIS
(AP) — U.S. government efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives are
not going down well on the European continent.
Laurent Saint-Martin, France's minister for foreign trade, said on
Monday the country won't compromise after the U.S. State Department said
that French companies who have contracts with the U.S. government need
to drop diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. In neighboring
Belgium, where some companies received similar requests, the government
lashed out at the new U.S. rules.
French media reported last week that French companies received a letter
saying U.S. President Donald Trump’s rollback of DEI initiatives also
could apply outside of the U.S.
Saint-Martin spoke to RTL Radio following the reports and said French
authorities will seek explanations from their U.S. counterparts about
the letter.
The reported demands included abandoning inclusion policies that are
part of French and European Union laws such as equality between men and
women, the fight against discrimination and racism or the promotion of
diversity to help people with disabilities, he said.
“All of this is progress that corresponds first and foremost to our
French values, we are proud of this and we don’t want to compromise on
it,” Saint-Martin said. “We can’t just cancel the application of our own
laws overnight.”
French media said the letter was signed by an officer of the U.S. State
Department who is on the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Paris. The embassy
didn’t respond to questions from The Associated Press.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, speaking to reporters at a
briefing in Washington, confirmed that letters were sent.
“This is an effort to comply with the executive order from the president
and it is essentially a self-certifying statement to local consulates
and embassies," she said.
Le Figaro daily newspaper published what it said was a copy of the
letter. The document said an executive order that Trump signed in
January terminating DEI programs within the federal government also
“applies to all suppliers and service providers of the U.S. Government,
regardless of their nationality and the country in which they operate.”
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People stroll Friday, March 21, 2025 in La Defense business district
outside Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla, file)
 The document asked U.S. government
contractors to complete, sign and return within five days a separate
certification form to demonstrate that they are in compliance.
Saint-Martin said he was “deeply shocked” but
insisted on the need to have a “positive agenda” and maintain a
dialogue with the U.S.
In Belgium, Finance Minister Jan Jambon said Europeans have a
“culture of “non-discrimination” that must be continued. “We have no
lessons to learn from the boss of America,” he told channel RTL-TVi.
In a joint statement quoted by local media, Foreign Minister Maxime
Prévot and Equal Opportunities Minister Rob Beenders regretted the
"step backward” taken by the U.S.
“Diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords, but the foundations
of a strong and dynamic society,” they said. “They strengthen our
economy, foster innovation and allow talent to flourish.”
In Spain, Barcelona’s mayor said last week that his municipal
government will defy Trump’s attack on DEI initiatives that have
included a cultural program hosted by the city.
Trump issued the executive order to roll back the programs with
federal funding, including those receiving U.S. government aid
abroad.
The Barcelona-based program is one of 700 “American Spaces” located
in 140 countries. They offer English-language and other courses to
adults and children, information and materials about the U.S. and
counseling for foreign students hoping to enroll at U.S. schools and
universities.
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