People first - Diversity and inclusion

Fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace

The European Commission has adopted several policies to strengthen Europe’s commitment to equality, such as:

• a gender equality strategy
• an antiracism action plan
• a Roma strategic framework
• a strategy for the rights of LGBTIQ persons
• a strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities

As an employer, the Commission has set itself the goal of leading by example. In its new HR strategy, it aims to improve diversity among its staff to better reflect the diversity of the European population. 

In the previous College mandate (2019-2024) significate progress was made, to achieve gender parity at all management levels. Since the beginning of the mandate, the female representation increased (data on 1 November 2024):

• from 36,6% to 48,1% in senior management level
• from 41,6% to 49,6% in middle management level 
• reaching 49,3% overall.

This places the Commission among the very few public administrations around the world with the highest share of women in leadership positions. To reach this aim, incremental measures were put in place gradually. To achieve this, talent development programmes for female staff and DG-specific targets were adopted and implemented under regular and strict monitoring by DG HR, while ensuring that merit always remained the primary selection criterion. The principle of making gender balanced first appointments at middle management level was closely monitored and helped to ensure sustained gender equality..

In addition, the institution is determined to practice a zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination on all grounds towards its staff members, as enshrined in the Treaty on the functioning the European Union. 

The Diversity and Inclusion Office (DIO) in DG Human Resources was created in 2020 to:

• coordinate the development of a diverse and inclusive work culture
• cooperate with other institutions and organisations in this respect

In 2021, the Commission conducted a survey to gauge perceptions of diversity and inclusion among people working in the Commission, its executive agencies and the European External Action Service. The 10,000 responses gave us a picture of staff sentiment and have fed into a new diversity and inclusion action plan, which is designed to improve the current working environment and the prospects of the Commission as an employer.

The updated diversity and inclusion action plan was adopted at the end of 2022 after extensive internal consultations. It sets out the key actions planned around diversity and inclusion for 2023 and 2024 as part of the implementation of the Human Resources Strategy.

Fact Sheet on the Diversity and inclusion in the workplace - Action Plan 2023-2024

Factsheet on Diversity, inclusion and respect at the workplace: survey