EU officials criticize Serbian ministers for honoring convicted war criminal
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa condemned the presence of senior Serbian officials at the funeral of Ratko Mladic, who was serving a life sentence for genocide and war crimes. They said the attendance shows a failure to confront a dark chapter in Europe's history and contradicts Serbia's EU membership path. Serbia's defense and justice ministers were among those present, though President Vucic did not attend.
Mladic died last month in The Hague while serving a life term for crimes tied to the 1990s Bosnian conflict, notably the 1995 Srebrenica massacre where over 8,000 men and boys were killed. In response to the funeral, Bosnia has reduced diplomatic ties and withdrawn most embassy personnel from Belgrade.
The EU's rebuke arrives just weeks before its annual review of candidate countries. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos had already postponed a Belgrade visit, labeling the event a test. Serbia's accession path was already rocky, with a prior warning about losing roughly 1.5 billion euros in funds due to local election irregularities. Brussels is currently evaluating potential consequences, while von der Leyen faces criticism over her stance on Gaza.
This incident could deepen divisions within Serbia and the wider Balkans, highlighting a stark contrast between nationalist sentiment and EU integration requirements. It may embolden nationalist factions while alienating pro-EU citizens and neighboring states, particularly Bosnia. The EU's response could also influence public perception of the bloc's credibility, especially given its inconsistent application of war crimes standards, potentially affecting regional stability and the pace of accession negotiations.