The United Arab Emirates accused European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell of making "racist" remarks last week and summoned a representative of the EU delegation to the Foreign Ministry, Politico reported.

The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned Borrell's controversial remarks, in which he compared Europe to a garden and the rest of the world to a jungle, saying they were inappropriate and discriminatory and contribute to a climate of intolerance and discrimination around the world.

The Foreign Ministry demanded a written explanation of Borrell's comments and summoned Emil Paulsen, acting head of the EU delegation's mission to the UAE.

In a controversial speech to prospective diplomats at the opening of the European Diplomatic Academy in Bruges last week, Borrell said Europe is a garden. Most of the rest of the world is a jungle, and the jungle can invade the garden. Borrella noted that instead of building a wall, diplomats should go into the jungle.

The remarks drew criticism from politicians around the world, with Canada's ambassador to the UN, Bob Rae, calling it a terrible analogy.

Borrell tried to justify himself by insisting that his message was racist or colonialist. He assured that his intention was to reject the idea of a fortress Europe and to encourage students to engage with the world.