Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002206/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Sophie Wilmès (Renew), Hilde Vautmans (Renew), Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez (Renew), Dan Barna (Renew), Billy Kelleher (Renew)
In March 2025, US embassies in several EU Member States sent a letter to a number of private European companies that have contracts with the US Government, asking them to clarify whether they run DEI programmes that violate US President Trump’s executive order against race- and sex-based preferences and ending equal opportunities programmes (Executive Order No 14173). The letter sought to clarify that the executive order applies to any firm doing business with the US Government, including non-US companies. The document also stated that the existence of such programmes could prevent these companies from working with the US Government in the future.
The media reported that companies in Belgium, France and Italy received this letter, with the French Government denouncing it as ‘unacceptable interference’. A number of companies have said they will comply with the request, such as GSK in Belgium.
In this context:
- 1.Is the Commission aware of the Member States in which companies have received this letter and which companies have accepted or refused the request?
- 2.What is the Commission doing to address this situation?
- 3.What is the Commission doing to prevent European companies from being subject to interference from non-EU countries that advocate values contrary to our own?
Submitted: 2.6.2025