Social Diplomacy Summit 2026

Brexit has fundamentally changed the lives of EU citizens who have made the UK their home for decades. Five years after the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, Brexit still impacts the rights enjoyed by EU citizens in the UK and by British citizens living across EU Member States. However, evidence shows that these effects did not impact all citizens equally, with racialised EU citizens facing structural and institutional barriers to equal access to rights and protections.

Over the past five years, we have developed innovative lived-experience engagement strategies and have collaborated with the European External Service Action (EEAS) and Member States to create mechanisms to facilitate meaningful dialogues between social-justice advocates and EU Diplomats.

These collaborations have delivered concrete, evidence-based outcomes, including the European Minority Ethnic Citizens (EUROMEC) , research on race and ethnicity, and closer engagement with embassies and consulates, as well as the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), contributing to stronger equality data, accountability, and inclusive policymaking.

While progress has been made, recent evidence has raised concerns, prompting leading experts to warn that there is a risk of “a repeat of ‘the Windrush scandal”. This warning underscores the need for continued attention and coordinated action.

Against this backdrop, the Social Diplomacy Summit will provide a platform for policy dialogue, operational cooperation, and partnership‑building between EU institutions, Member States, and civil society. Grounded in lived experience and robust evidence, the Summit will contribute to policy coherence across external relations, consular protection, and equality frameworks, in line with the EU’s commitments under the Union of Equality.

The Summit directly supports the implementation of the EU Anti‑Racism Strategy 2026–2030 by:

• addressing structural racism beyond the EU’s borders,
• strengthening partnerships with civil society and affected communities, and
• reinforcing inclusive, participatory, and evidence-based governance.

As the European Union advances its anti‑racism agenda for 2026–2030, sustained cooperation, institutional accountability, and the meaningful participation of racialised communities remain essential. The Social Diplomacy Summit represents a concrete contribution to translating the EU’s anti‑racism commitments into practical external action, ensuring that fundamental rights, equality, and human dignity are upheld for all.

#SocialDiplomacy2026 #RacialisedEuropeanDiaspora @Black_Europeans

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