Borrell Apologizes

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has apologized to Europe for comparing it to a garden, while the rest of the world resembles jungles. Borrell's relevant statement was published on the EU website on Tuesday.

“Some have misinterpreted this metaphor as a manifestation of 'colonial Eurocentrism.' I apologize if it has offended anyone. I believe, and I said to EU ambassadors last week, that we are often too eurocentric; we need to be more humble and better understand the rest of the world,” he said.

He also explained what he meant by the term “jungle”: “Unfortunately, the world we live in is increasingly resembling jungles and less like a garden, as in many parts of the world the rights of the powerful undermine the commonly accepted international norms. This trend worries everyone, including Europeans. The rise of lawlessness and disorder in the world is what I meant when I spoke of jungles. My reference to jungles does not have a racial, cultural, or geographical connotation. Unfortunately, jungles are everywhere, including today in Ukraine,” the diplomat emphasized.

Borrell stated that he has enough experience to know that both Europe and the West are imperfect, and some Western countries sometimes violate international law.

According to Borrell, many around the world strive to build a “rules-based order” rather than a power-driven hierarchy. Therefore, the 'gardeners' seeking order must “unite and collectively fight against the jungles.”

On October 13, while speaking at the opening of the European Diplomatic Academy in Bruges (Belgium), Borrell compared Europe to a garden and the rest of the world to jungles that can invade this garden if no dialogue is established with them. Borrell's words have sparked negative reactions in several countries. For instance, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry described his statements as racist. In turn, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, reminded that the 'garden' was built by Europe due to its barbaric attitude towards the 'plundering of jungles.'