Denmark calls for EU response against US diversity demands

Denmark on Tuesday called for a united EU response to US warnings to European companies against using diversity programmes, which new US President Donald Trump has vowed to eradicate.

In recent weeks, a few dozen of French companies doing or looking to do business in the United States and several Danish companies have received letters from US embassies that included a questionnaire asking the firms to certify that they "do not practice programmes to promote diversity, equity and inclusion" or DEI.

Designed to provide opportunities for people of colour, women and other historically excluded groups, DEI programmes have drawn the wrath of Trump and his followers, who say the "woke" programs are discriminatory and incompatible with meritocracy.

When asked to comment on the letters Denmark's Industry Minister Morten Bodskov told AFP that "a response must naturally be discussed with our European colleagues."

"Danish and European companies take great responsibility for diversity," Bodskov said. "In the EU, for example, we have adopted legislation to promote diversity in corporate leadership and to enhance companies’ responsibility for the society they are part of."

"This can only be seen as yet another attempt at an American trade barrier."

France's foreign trade minister Laurent Saint-Martin said on Monday that he was "deeply shocked" by the letters, which were tantamount to asking companies "to renounce the inclusion policies" that are in line with French or European law -- "particularly on equality between women and men in the fight against discrimination and racism, and the promotion of diversity to help people with disabilities."

French Economy Minister Eric Lombard's office had earlier said Trump views of DEI "are not ours".

Also Tuesday, Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said the country "will not go back on millimetre" on diversity efforts in response to the US letter, which Belgian firms had also received.

He called the requests "deeply regrettable" and said "Belgium has clearly stated its concerns" to the US Embassy in Brussels.