- Mladic was buried in Belgrade on Monday with military honors, with the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Porfirije, leading the funeral service and Serbian army soldiers carrying Mladic’s flag-draped coffin.
- Several Serbian government ministers attended the service for the man known as the 'Butcher of Bosnia' and found guilty of committing the continent’s since World War II.
- EU leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, called the funeral images 'shocking' and said the official support and presence of senior Serbian officials were 'deeply regrettable', questioning Serbia's fitness to join the bloc.
- Serbian President Vucic, a former extreme nationalist, described the funeral as an 'emotional outpouring.'
- Serbia’s Justice Minister Nenad Vujic attended and stood with Mladic’s family, stating that authorities helped keep order to ensure a 'dignified' funeral.
- Vucic is walking a political tightrope, trying to rally supporters ahead of an early parliamentary election without alienating the EU.
- EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos warned that the funeral would be 'a test' for Belgrade, arguing that the glorification of Mladic’s death would be incompatible with EU values.
EU leaders expressed outrage over Serbia's funeral for Ratko Mladic, a general convicted of war crimes, raising serious doubts about the country's EU membership bid.456
Mladic was buried with military honors in Belgrade, attended by several Serbian officials, including Justice Minister Nenad Vujic, who described the event as a dignified farewell.12
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, “The images from Ratko Mladic’s funeral yesterday in Belgrade were shocking,” emphasizing the need for Serbia to confront its past.
The funeral, described by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic as an “emotional outpouring,” has been criticized for its implications on Serbia's EU aspirations. Vucic, who has to balance support from Mladic admirers with EU relations, faces a political challenge ahead of upcoming elections.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos warned that the glorification of Mladic would be “incompatible with EU values,” making the funeral a significant test for Serbia's commitment to European integration.1213
The presence of Serbian officials at the funeral has raised alarms about the country's readiness to join the EU, as it reflects a failure to address a “dark chapter in Europe’s recent history,” according to von der Leyen and Costa.
The situation underscores the ongoing tensions within Serbia regarding its historical narrative and the path towards EU membership.
“The funeral, led by Patriarch Porfirije and attended by Serbian ministers, drew EU criticism as von der Leyen and Costa called the official support 'deeply regrettable'. Vucic, facing an early election, described the event as an 'emotional outpouring' while EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos had warned it would be 'a test' for Belgrade.”
The Spec
