On the record

Feeding the European Garden

Speech by Josep Borrell, European Commission Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister, speaking at the Opening of the European Diplomatic Academy, October 12, 2022 — and the response by Marc Botenga, MEP, ten days later.

Josep Borrell — Opening of the European Diplomatic Academy, 12 October 2022

I am sure you are aware how lucky you are. Because (this European Defence Academy) is a good example of a European garden. Yes, Europe is a garden. We have built a garden. Everything works! It is the best combination of political freedom, economic prosperity and social cohesion that humankind has been able to build. A good representation of beautiful things, intellectual life, and well-being.— Josep Borrell

That the rest of the world… the rest of the world is a jungle. And the jungle could invade the garden and the gardeners should take care of it. But they will not protect the garden by high walls, by building walls. A nice small garden surrounded by high walls in order to prevent the jungle coming in is not going to be a solution; because the jungle has a strong growth capacity and the wall will never be high enough.— Josep Borrell

You know that to protect the garden, the gardeners have to go to the jungle. Otherwise, the rest of the world will invade us by different ways and means. Yes, this is my most important message.— Josep Borrell

Is this speech being broadcast? Oh, then let's take care — because there are things that can be said behind closed doors and in inside working and cannot be projected to the jungle… let's stay in the garden but be aware that the jungle is listening to us. In diplomacy you have to tell the truth. You cannot lie, well, not formally. But you also cannot say all the truth.— Josep Borrell

Marc Botenga, MEP — European Parliament, 22 October 2022

What's the difference between a garden and a jungle? A garden's a nice place where civilized human beings walk around. A jungle is the heart of darkness where wild animals live.— Marc Botenga, MEP

Now many people in Africa, Asia, Latin America remember very well how, in the name of civilization, European colonialism treated them like wild animals, enslaving them, torturing them and even exhibiting them in human zoos. Therefore, when the highest diplomat of the European Union compares Europe to a garden, but especially the rest of the world to a jungle, the message these people hear is that Europe is still driven by colonialism. We cannot let that pass.— Marc Botenga, MEP