Top EU officials expressed astonishment on Tuesday as Serbia honored Ratko Mladic, a Bosnian Serb general who passed away while serving a life sentence for war crimes, leading to doubts about Serbia’s readiness to join the EU. Mladic received a military funeral in Belgrade on Monday, with Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church conducting the service and Serbian army soldiers carrying his flag-covered coffin.
Numerous Serbian government ministers attended the service for Mladic, infamous as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” who was convicted of perpetrating Europe’s first genocide since World War II. Despite his crimes, Mladic is still revered as a hero by many Serbs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa criticized the official support and presence of senior Serbian officials at the funeral, describing it as a failure to address a dark chapter in Europe’s recent history and conflicting with the values necessary for Serbia’s EU aspirations.
Regarding the consequences for Serbia’s EU bid, von der Leyen’s spokesperson indicated that they are currently under review. President Aleksandar Vucic did not attend the funeral, but his son Danilo was present, along with Bosnian Serb nationalist leader Milorad Dodik and the Russian ambassador in Serbia, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko.
Serbia’s Justice Minister Nenad Vujic attended the funeral and stood with Mladic’s family, emphasizing that authorities ensured order during the event. Mladic was convicted of genocide for his involvement in the Srebrenica massacre in 1995 and the siege of Sarajevo, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Britain condemned the participation of Serbian state and military officials at Mladic’s funeral, warning that glorifying a war criminal undermines reconciliation and stability in the Western Balkans. The funeral has raised concerns about Serbia’s EU membership prospects, particularly due to previous democratic setbacks and warnings of potential funding loss.
Vucic, a former nationalist, described the funeral as an emotional moment while balancing political alliances with Mladic supporters and EU aspirations. The EU is expected to release its annual enlargement report soon, evaluating the progress of candidate countries like Serbia towards EU membership. The funeral’s impact on Serbia’s standing with the EU remains uncertain.
