Who received the letter and who did not? It has been difficult to get answers from European companies that may have got a memo, sent by the US embassy in their respective home countries, which demanded they comply with rules set by United States President Donald Trump, banning all affirmative action policies that favor diversity and gender parity ("DEI," for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion).

In Spain, the news site El Confidencial revealed on February 19 that a letter, accompanied by a form to be filled out, was sent on February 6 to companies that provide services to the US embassy in Madrid. They were required to certify that they were "in compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws" and "do not operate any programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that violate" these laws. Keeping a low profile, none of the companies concerned have, so far, explained how they plan to adapt to this order, knowing that non-compliance with equality policies in Spain is punishable by a €200,000 fine.

"The ministry will not allow any company to evade the regulatory framework we have democratically established and violate the mandatory commitments in matters of equality, diversity, and non-discrimination to be able to operate with the United States," said Yolanda Diaz, Spain's labor minister and second vice president of the government (from the Sumar party, radical left), on February 20.

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