EU's top diplomat denies 'jungle' comments were racist
October 19, 2022, 7:45 am

EU's top diplomat denies 'jungle' comments were racist

Josep Borrell-EU's top diplomat/Facebook

The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday (Oct 18) denied that comments he made last week were racist and apologised for any offence caused by the remarks that had prompted criticism from the United Arab Emirates.

The United Arab Emirates said late on Monday (Oct 17) that it rejects a “racist statement” by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell at the inauguration of the new European Diplomatic Academy in Bruges, Belgium, calling his remarks “inappropriate and discriminatory.

Last week, Borrell compared Europe to a “garden” and “most of the rest of the world a jungle.”

In a blog post published late on Tuesday, Borrell said his reference to a “jungle” referred to increasing examples of countries using force, intimidation and blackmail – behaviour at odds with agreed international norms.

“The growth of this lawless world and disorder is what I meant when talking about the ‘jungle’. My reference to ‘jungle’ has no racist, cultural or geographical connotation. Indeed and unfortunately, the ‘jungle’ is everywhere, including in Ukraine. We must take this trend seriously and that was my message to the students,” he said.

UAE rejects ‘racist statement’ by EU’s Josep Borrell, summons diplomat

“Some have misinterpreted the metaphor as ‘colonial Euro-centrism’. I am sorry if some have felt offended,” he said, adding that he felt Europe was often too Euro-centric and needed to get to know the rest of the world better.

Borrell acknowledged that some dislike the metaphor because it has been used by U.S. “neo-conservatives”.

He added: “I am far from this school of political thought."

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