Overview

• The U.S. Embassy in Stockholm issued a letter requiring the city’s planning office to certify compliance with U.S. anti-DEI policies within 10 days.
• Stockholm’s planning commissioner Jan Valeskog called the demand “completely bizarre” and confirmed the city will not sign the contract.
• Sweden’s Gender Equality Minister Nina Larsson stated that compliance would breach the country’s Discrimination Act, which mandates active anti-discrimination efforts.
• The U.S. State Department clarified that the directive applies only to entities holding contracts or grants with U.S. missions and involves minimal paperwork.
• The European Union is reviewing the legality of the U.S. directive under international law and exploring a unified response to defend European values and sovereignty.