Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, reacted strongly following the significant turnout for the funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić in Belgrade. Mladić passed away last week while serving a life sentence for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
On Tuesday, von der Leyen described the images from Monday’s funeral as “shocking” and indicated that the event could jeopardize Serbia’s ambitions to join the European Union. “The scenes from Ratko Mladić’s funeral yesterday in Belgrade were shocking,” she remarked on X, referring to comments made by European Council President Antonio Costa.
She further criticized the presence of high-ranking Serbian officials at the funeral, calling it “deeply regrettable.” Von der Leyen emphasized that such actions reflect a failure to confront a dark chapter in Europe’s recent history and contradict the values that underpin Serbia’s path towards EU membership.
Thousands Attend Mladić’s Funeral
Thousands gathered for Mladić’s funeral in a substantial public outpouring, marking one of the largest funerals in Serbia since the fall of communism. Mourners waved Serbian flags and held photographs of Mladić wearing a traditional Serbian military cap. The funeral service was officiated by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije in a church located in a Belgrade suburb.
Mladić’s casket, flanked by armed soldiers and accompanied by a military band, was carried through the busy streets as crowds chanted his name. He was laid to rest in a nearby cemetery next to his daughter, who died in 1994.
The turnout highlighted the continued reverence for Mladić among many in Serbia and the autonomous Republic of Srpska in Bosnia, despite his convictions related to the Srebrenica massacre in 1995 and the siege of Sarajevo—two of the bloodiest events in post-war Europe.
EU Commissioner Delays Visit to Serbia
Mladić was found guilty by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for his role in the Srebrenica massacre, where approximately 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed after Serbian forces invaded the UN-protected enclave. He was also convicted for the 43-month siege of Sarajevo, which resulted in around 10,000 deaths.
Last week, EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, postponed her visit to Serbia, which is a candidate for EU membership, citing the “glorification” of Mladić after his death.
“The armed conflicts in the Western Balkans during the 1990s were among the darkest moments in recent European history,” a spokesperson for the EU stated in a declaration on Monday. “Any glorification of war criminals, denial of genocide, and revisionism are contrary to fundamental European values and should have no place in the EU or candidate countries.”
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who dismissed Kos’s statements last week, did not attend the funeral. However, his son, Danilo, was present, accompanied by Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic and Justice Minister Nenad Vujic.
Mladić was repatriated to Serbia aboard a government plane.
