The European Union is founded on the principles of solidarity, respect for human rights, prevention of discrimination and commitment to social cohesion.
Equality is one of the fundamental values on which the European Union is founded, reflected in the Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which give the EU a mandate and responsibility to combat discrimination. The Treaty provisions have allowed the EU to introduce non-discrimination laws for specific protected grounds (sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation).
The values of equity and social inclusion are demonstrated in our support for diversity, equity and inclusion activities (DE&I) in the workplace. DE&I initiatives have been shown to improve productivity, innovation and workplace relations – outcomes that are key to the ambition of reigniting sustainable growth and building competitiveness, as detailed in the recent Draghi report.
The EU Diversity Charters are an active demonstration of the dedication to building a Europe for all. The 27-member state Diversity Charters have over 17,500 signatories, with 17 million employees in organisations all over Europe. Through signing a Diversity Charter, organisations make a public statement of commitment to promote equality, diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace in a framework that is tailored to their member state context. Leaders are visibly demonstrating their adherence to the legal and statutory context for preventing discrimination in the workplace and promoting equality in Europe. They are building a network of signatory organisations and a community of dedicated equality, diversity and inclusion practitioners seeking to build best practice.
We are committed to collaborating with DE&I champions in organisations, in the European Commission, in the European Parliament, in member state governments, in Equality Bodies, in Human Rights Institutions, in civil society networks, and with other committed actors to ensure that the promotion of equality, diversity, equity and inclusion, the protection of human rights and the prevention of discrimination are addressed in this EU legislature.
Now in 2025 we pledge to strengthen our commitments by:
● Supporting the EU Platform of Diversity Charters and the work of each of the 27 Diversity Charters in their member states to attract signatories through awareness raising, data gathering, information sharing, training programmes, participating in the delivery of European Diversity Month and engaging in dialogue with stakeholders to strengthen European DE&I efforts at all levels.
● Fully endorsing the principles and objectives of the new Roadmap for Women’s Rights.
● Supporting EU Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib in ensuring that equality policies and legislation are implemented across the EU and targeted measures to renew the post-2025 LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy and a new Anti-Racism Strategy are delivered over the coming two years, by enabling consultation with the EU Platform of Diversity Charters and other relevant stakeholders; ensuring that the additional diversity strategies and action plans are strengthened: the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030, the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation 2020-2030.
● Working with all stakeholders to support the adoption of an EU-wide minimum level of protection against discrimination based on religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation in several areas of social life. This is required to complement the current EU Employment Equality Directive, and national legal protections for vulnerable groups across Europe. We call on member states to ask the European Commission to reconsider the announcement of withdrawal of the proposal for the new horizontal Directive into their work programme for 2025 and the EU Council Presidency to work on achieving consensus to adopt this Directive.
● We call on all member state governments to ensure that policies to promote equality, diversity, equity and inclusion are added to the EU Council Presidency programmes and are mainstreamed across different policies of the European Commission, in order to support progress in achieving social cohesion.
The #UnionOfEquality is significant, it needs our pledge to protect and enhance all efforts to promote equality, diversity, equity and inclusion in the European Union.
Signed 29 April 2025
Diversity Charter Ireland
Diversity Charter Portugal
Diversity Charter Estonia
Diversity Charter Luxembourg
Diversity Charter Sweden
Diversity Charter Slovenia
Diversity Charter Romania
Diversity Charter Finland
Diversity Charter Italy
Diversity Charter Croatia
Diversity Charter Greece
Diversity Charter Cyprus
Diversity Charter Lithuania
Diversity Charter Spain
Diversity Charter Belgium
Diversity Charter Denmark
Diversity Charter Slovakia
Diversity Charter France
Diversity Charter Germany
Diversity Charter Bulgaria
Diversity Charter Poland
Diversity Charter Czech Republic
Diversity Charter Austria
Diversity Charter Malta
Diversity Charter The Netherlands
Diversity Charter Latvia
