The EU Diversity Forum 2019 Explored the Future

In May 2019, the EU hosted the Diversity Charters’ Annual Forum “United in Diversity – a common challenge”. The event brought together leaders from politics, academia, business and civil society to debate the future of D&I in Europe.

A Decade of Diversity Charters – A Milestone in Brussels

2019 marked the 10th anniversary of the start of the EU level platform for Diversity Charters. I had the privilege of co-managing the first years of the project, including annual events, bringing together leaders from across sectors, this time at Hotel Le Plaza in Brussels. The aim was to assess what had been achieved in the first decade of the Charter movement—and, more importantly, to explore what must come next.

As moderator of that special event, my task was to create space for honest debate and to challenge speakers and participants alike: What is the future of diversity in a polarised Europe? How can business, politics and education sustain inclusion in times of disruption?

Opening the Forum: Unity as a Political and Social Imperative

The opening session was a reminder that inclusion is not a niche issue, but a cornerstone of democratic societies.

  • Tiina Astola, Director General of DG Justice and Consumers, underlined the European Commission’s commitment to equality as a unifying principle.
  • Bart Somers, Mayor of Mechelen and winner of the World Mayor Prize, shared how cities can become role models by embracing diversity in practice.
  • Cathy Van Remoortere from Actiris linked the issue directly to the labour market, showing how inclusion strengthens both employability and competitiveness.

This set the tone for a day that bridged policy and practice, principle and pragmatism.

Past, Present, Future: Intersectional Perspectives

The first panel explored what diversity means in practice today and how to move forward without losing sight of structural inequalities. I enjoyed moderating the diverse panel as it brought together critical perspectives:

  • Dr Emilia Roig, Centre for Intersectional Justice opened with a keynote that highlighted the persistence of systemic barriers.
  • Aminata Cairo, educator and anthropologist, emphasised the role of inclusive education.
  • Kaspars Zalitis, human rights defender from Latvia, showed how new Charters can trigger cultural shifts where diversity work is still in its infancy.
  • Deyan Kolev, Roma activist, reminded us that migration and coexistence have always been part of Europe’s history.
  • Rebekah Smith from BusinessEurope stressed that a great many studies confirm the business case: diversity delivers.

As moderator, I asked the panel to go beyond well-rehearsed arguments: What should we unlearn? Where are our blind spots? How do we move from fatigue to renewal? The answers revealed both challenges and resilience within Europe’s D&I movement.

Diversity at the Top: Still a Steep Climb

The afternoon session tackled a provocative issue: More diversity in the top—can we overcome the challenge? I was glad that this panel brought together stakeholders from different organisations that were able to create a holistic picture of the topic.

  • Martin Theobald, Völklinger Kreis opened with a keynote based on the lived experience of Germany’s network of gay managers.
  • Jaleh Bradea, Chief D&I Officer of Vivendi, linking media responsibility with internal change.
  • Adnan Basaran, founder of The Inclusion Partners, on recruitment and leadership pipelines.
  • Allyson Zimmermann, Catalyst Europe, with global research on the barriers women face in reaching senior roles.

Here, I challenged the panellists to confront uncomfortable truths: Why do leadership cultures remain closed while corporate cultures evolve? Are quotas a sustainable lever—or merely a short-term fix? And what paradigm shift is still missing in Europe’s boardrooms? The debate was lively, sometimes controversial, but always forward-looking.

The European Future: Resilience and Renewal

Before the closing remarks, I invited participants to reflect on one central question: What will make diversity and inclusion truly future-proof? The answers ranged from stronger regulation to more courageous leadership and innovative formats for collaboration. The Forum concluded with Irena Moozova, Director for Equality and Union Citizenship at the European Commission. She reminded us that diversity is both a legal obligation and a moral compass for Europe’s future. Her message underlined the essence of the day: that Europe’s unity in diversity is not a slogan, but a commitment that requires vision and action.

My personal conclusion

After having helped to bring the EU level platform of Diversity Charters to live, hosting the 10 th anniversary EU Diversity Forum 2019 was a privilege—and a challenge. In times of polarisation, migration debates and digital disruption, the Forum demonstrated that diversity is not only about representation but about resilience, innovation and the very future of Europe.

The discussions showed that we have come far, yet the journey is far from over. The task ahead is to turn conviction into systemic change. That is the challenge and the promise of ‘United in Diversity’.