Brussels has launched its “diversity month”, celebrating progressive identity causes amid ongoing preparations for potential fuel shortages.
The celebration, which is designed around building “awareness about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and across our societies”, coincides with the launch of a new action plan aimed at mitigating the damage caused by future fuel shortages.
“Inclusive labour markets and workplaces in Europe benefit not only our citizens and companies but our entire society and economy,” Brussels’ Executive Vice-President for Social Rights, Romania’s Roxana Mînzatu said.
As part of the launch, the Commission handed out a number of rewards to cities inside the bloc that spent 2025 “promoting diversity and inclusion across gender, racial and ethnic origin, religion and belief, disability, age, and LGBTIQ+ identities”.
The following day, the Commission announced it would be €235 million in aid to Central and Western Africa, justifying the increased spending in part by claiming climate change has worsened local conflict in the region.
This month’s racial and LGBTIQ+ equality push comes amid increasing fears regarding energy stability within Europe.
Speaking on April 22, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new scheme aimed at combating the bloc’s ongoing energy crisis.
Titled AccelerateEU, the scheme will see the bloc set up a “Fuel Observatory” that will enable the “swift identification of potential shortages”. The plan will also enable the use of emergency measures, such as fuel releases from strategic reserves.
The core of the plan will be to double down on the EU’s complete shift towards renewables, despite the technology having so far failed to abate rising prices.
“We must accelerate the shift to homegrown, clean energies,” von der Leyen said.
“This will give us energy independence and security, and mean we are better able to weather geopolitical storms.”