US efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives in Europe face backlash from some countries

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US efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives in Europe face backlash from some countries  The EU emphasised anti-discrimination and equality as part of its core values with France, Belgium and Spain pushing back against the letter.   READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/03/31/us-efforts-to-eliminate-diversity-initiatives-in-europe-face-backlash-from-some-countries  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00Efforts by the U.S. government to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion or DEI initiatives

00:05in Europe have not gone down well in the continent.

00:08The European Commission acknowledged awareness of a letter sent by the U.S. administration

00:12urging companies to drop DEI programs.

00:15We are aware of the letter that was sent by the U.S. administration to the companies.

00:22We need to know a bit more details before we react and as you know and as you have pointed

00:31out anti-discrimination and equality is based on our main values.

00:40In France, resistance has been particularly strong after reports emerged that the U.S.

00:44State Department demanded that French companies abandon inclusion policies which are part

00:48of national as well as EU law.

00:51La Figara published what it claimed was a copy of the letter stating that an executive

00:55order signed by President Donald Trump in January applies globally to all suppliers

00:59of the U.S. government.

01:01French Foreign Trade Minister Laurence Saint-Martin told RTL Radio that France would not compromise

01:06on these principles.

01:08Belgium also pushed back against perceived U.S. interference.

01:11Finance Minister Jean Jambon declared we have no lessons to learn from the leader of America.

01:16In a joint statement, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévost and Equal Opportunities Minister

01:20Rob Beinders condemned the move as a step backward asserting that diversity and inclusion

01:25strengthen economies and societies.

01:28In Spain, Barcelona's mayor announced his municipal government will defy Trump's rollback

01:32of DEI initiatives which had impacted cultural programs hosted by the city.

01:37Across Europe, leaders have stressed that diversity and inclusion are non-negotiable,

01:42a reflection of deeply held values rather than mere buzzwords.

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