MEPs’ lack of racial diversity has caused EU identity crisis, campaigners say

Just 4.3% of MEPs in the parliament’s last mandate were from racial and ethnic minorities – which falls drastically short of the estimated 10% of the EU population who identify as such. Photograph: Julien Warnand/EPA

The European parliament’s failure to fully reflect the EU’s diverse population has caused an “identity crisis”, campaigners have said, just days ahead of a vote that is expected to elect even fewer Black, Asian and minority ethnic MEPs.

In an analysis shared exclusively with the Guardian, the European Network Against Racism found that in the parliament’s last mandate, just 4.3% of MEPs were from racial and ethnic minorities – a proportion that falls drastically short of the estimated 10% of the EU population who identify as such.