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EUOBSERVER “Brussels So White” is not just a hashtag — it’s the reality of an often inward-looking Eurocentric mindset. As anyone who has interacted with the EU institutions quickly realises: those working ‘for Europe’ are mainly white. That is because Europe’s definition of diversity is not very inclusive. It applies, quite correctly, to the varied geographies, histories, languages and cultures of the 27 EU member states. Over the years, after persistent pressure, ‘gender diversity’ has been added to the list, as has diversity related to sexual orientation and people with disabilities. In contrast, a strong commitment to building an ‘anti-racist’ Europe where black and brown Europeans can feel at home, remains just that: a nice promise. The EU Commission does not keep statistics on the ethnicity of its staff. We do know, however, that black and brown members of the current European Parliament represent only three percent of the assembly’s composition even though racial and ethnic minorities make up at least 10 percent of the EU population. Are the June elections to the European Parliament going to change – or at least make a dent - in the EU institution’s systemic problem of inadequate racial representation? Will they make the EU less navel-gazing and Eurocentric? The short answer to both questions is no, not really. The longer one: it’s going to be tough, painstaking and complicated – for several inter-connected reasons. First, because xenophobic and openly-racist far-right parties, which are expected to increase their number, role and influence in the next EU assembly – and possibly also send senior officials to the European commission – are unlikely to include many Europeans of colour in their electoral lists. Their worldview can therefore be expected to be similarly racist and Orientalist. Second, while they are not openly-bigoted in an ‘in your face’ kind of way, Europe’s centre-right politicians have either openly — or tacitly — embraced the extremists’ political agenda and xenophobic view of the world. We are reaching out to community leaders. But it is not easy to convince everyone to vote." Celine Febrequette Centre-right and far-right collaboration? They also seem set on working together. As the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) Spitzenkandidate [lead candidate], EU commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has already publicly confirmed she will work with the parliament’s rightwing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group — whose members include the French far-right politician Eric Zemmour. Third, although they may talk-the-talk on making Europe more diverse, Europe’s progressives are not pushing — at least not collectively, visibly and forcefully enough — for a more racially-inclusive EU. There is yet another very important — fourth – problem: persuading black and brown Europeans to go out to vote, stand as parliamentary candidates and/or apply for EU jobs. With few role models for reference, “how are we going to convince non-white Europeans that EU institutions are relevant, credible and an attractive place to work?” asks Dutch MEP Mohammed Chahim. The problem is not just restricted to the EU. Voters are losing confidence in their mainstream national politicians across Europe. The disconnect seems to be particularly acute for black and brown people. Research by the Social and Cultural Planning Office in the Netherlands underlines that people with a “migration background” feel excluded from and have less confidence in national Dutch politics because “topics they consider important are downplayed or pushed aside”. Celine Febrequette of the Diaspora Vote organisation is trying to change just that through recently-mandated young “ambassadors”, tasked with getting more non-white Europeans to the polling booths. “We are reaching out to community leaders. But it is not easy to convince everyone to vote,” she admits. “The EU is just not seen as important to their daily lives.” Foreign policy For Europeans of colour it is not just a question of wanting more emphasis on social inequalities and systemic discrimination. There is also concern about European foreign policy. The EU’s belated call in March 2024 for a ceasefire in Gaza, sanction Israel for human rights violations, plus the bloc’s
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS EU Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has already publicly confirmed she will work with the parliament’s rightwing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group — whose members include the French far-right politician Eric Zemmour. Source: Wikimedia hasty, ill-judged decision to stop aid to UNRWA are adding to the disconnect between EU institutions and Europeans of colour — but most especially Muslims. “There is so much to do to make Europe more inclusive,” she underlines. “An important step is to eliminate discrimination in education” and also to get EU institutions to approve the 2008 directive on ensuring equal treatment and ending discrimination in all areas, not just employment. There is also the fact that escaping racism even once inside the EU institutions is not easy. The European Commission’s first-ever survey on diversity, inclusion and respect at the workplace released last year warned that EU institutions had failed to create an inclusive culture for Europeans of colour and people with disabilities. MEP Monica Semedo, one of only a handful of black politicians in the European Parliament, told me that while she was always “an exception” in her native Luxembourg, it was only when she came to the European Parliament as a young Afro-European woman that she felt “people were acting so differently around me.” As Europeans get ready to vote, the European Network Against Racism has warned political parties to ensure that their election campaigns and mandates are free from hate and discriminatory speech and acts, including at the highest political level. It is important advice. Experience shows, however, that hate-mongers and racists will continue to get media attention and top billing in the crucial months ahead. After the elections, there will be love-ins between far-right politicians and their ostensibly less extreme colleagues. Most dangerously, unless progressives step in to stop the drift, the far-right’s xenophobic and ethno-national discourse will creep even further into mainstream EU politics and policymaking. “Brussels So White” was tough enough for Europeans of colour. Its new iteration looks set to be even more challenging. ◄ About Shada Islam Shada Islam is a columnist for EUobserver, and visiting professor at the College of Europe. 45
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