IT’S an aspect of Brexit that few in Brussels talk about. But it’s worth some reflection. Once Britain leaves the European Union in March next year, the bloc’s Brussels-based institutions will become even less racially diverse and more boringly monochrome than they are at the moment.

In other words, the European Commission, the European Council of Ministers and the European Parliament as well as the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee which together run the EU from their headquarters in Brussels will be almost all-white.

The reason? For the moment, Britain is about the only country which has sent a significant number of non-white officials or parliamentarians to the European Commission, the European External Action Service or the European Parliament. The European Parliament at last count had 17 ethnic minority parliamentarians out of a total of 751, around half of whom were British.

Well, so what, you may say? Europe is a continent of white, mostly Christian people. So, it’s normal — natural even — that the institutions at the top should be in the trusted hands of white, mostly Christian people. A majority of men, with some women to give a helping hand.

And you would be right. The majority of Europeans are pale. And those who hold the reins of power in the EU institutions are both pale and male. But it’s time for a shot of colour.

The EU’s management machine no longer represents the reality of Europe’s increasingly vibrant, diverse, multicultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic societies.

Also, if Europe is to recreate and re-invent itself, become a more energetic and dynamic 21st century power capable of holding its own against rising China and India, it will have to use and recognise the talents of all its citizens, regardless of their colour, race or ethnic origin.

To be fair, the EU does talk a great deal — a very great deal — about diversity. The bloc’s motto, in fact, is “unity in diversity”. That’s a reference to the fact that the 28 countries are very different from each other. They have different languages, cultures and culinary traditions.

Amsterdam, which is only an-hour-and-a-half train ride away from Brussels, has a totally different vibe from the Belgian capital. As has Paris, also just 90 minutes on a fast train from Brussels. These differences are what make Europe so special.

For many Europeans, this diversity has so far been good enough. Over the last few years, however, as women become more vocal in demanding their rights to equal treatment, the term has taken on a new meaning.

Talk about “diversity” in Brussels now and the focus is automatically on the rights of women. The EU launched a new “Diversity and Inclusion Charter” last July with promises of fresh action to reach at least 40 per cent women in its management by Nov 1, 2019.

EU officials promised that they wanted to create a better workplace for all — including women, staff with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex (LGBTI) staff and older staff. “Concrete steps will be taken to make best use of the talent of all of the Commission’s employees,” said officials.

Significantly, however, there was no mention of ethnic minorities or their rights to equal treatment. Or the fact that EU institutions are in desperate need of diversifying the ethnic origin of their staff in order to better serve the citizens of the continent.

A recent article by the Politico newspaper insisted that “Brussels is blind to diversity”, adding: “Large EU institutions such as the European Commission rigorously collect data on the nationality, age and gender of their staff. They ask nothing about the racial or ethnic backgrounds. One of the effects is to narrow the pool of people who work for the EU to the point that they no longer resemble ordinary Europeans.”

Although statistics on race are difficult to come by in Europe, about 50 million people of a racial or ethnic minority background are believed to living in the EU. That’s about 10pc of the EU’s population.

Yet, also according to Politico, less than 1pc of people who work in the EU institutions are “people of colour”. Importantly, despite the odds, women have been making vital inroads in their quest for equality. Their efforts have been given increased traction by the #metoo movement in recent months.

It’s time, however, to enlarge the definition of diversity. According to British Conservative member of the European Parliament Syed Kamall, the EU must put its house in order and address a “shocking” lack of racial diversity in the European institutions.

Speaking last week in a European Parliament debate on rising socio-economic inequalities, Mr Kamall, leader of the European conservatives and reformists group, pointed out the EU was still often accused of being a rich white man’s club.

He told MEPs: “I realise that I am the first non-white leader of any political group, but I remain shocked by the lack of racial diversity not only in this house but across all EU institutions.

“If the EU is going to have any credibility on the issues of diversity and equality, it needs to get its own house in order.

“Let us, across the political spectrum, reach out to young people in all our countries and tell them whatever your colour, your gender, your religion, your orientation or your background, you should not be afraid to put yourself forward for political office.

“It is time to take action if the EU wishes to truly live up to the motto of ‘United in Diversity’.”

Mr Kamall, a Muslim born in Islington, north London, who is of Indo-Guyanese descent, said last year that he feared the UK’s exit from the EU in March 2019 would only reduce the representation of minority ethnic groups in Brussels.

He’s right. Brexit will make Europe even whiter than it is at the moment. However, upcoming elections to the European Parliament and the change of leadership at the European Commission in 2019 offer an opportunity to change the status quo.

So the question in the coming months is this: is Europe ready to accept the challenge of real diversity?

—The writer is Dawn’s correspondent in Brussels

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2018