Ursula von der Leyen condemns ‘shocking’ Ratko Mladić funeral in Serbia
The ceremony for the commander responsible for the Srebrenica genocide was attended by senior Serbian ministers in Belgrade.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denounced the funeral for war criminal Ratko Mladić in Serbia, stating it contradicts the values essential for Serbia's progression towards the European Union. Mladić, a convicted war criminal responsible for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, passed away on August 27 while serving a life sentence.
Serbian ministers and military leaders attended the service, which was led by Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Porfirije and emphasized Mladić's enduring presence in Serbian memory and prayers. Despite claiming no involvement, the Serbian government allowed Mladić's body to fly to Serbia on a government plane, with members of the Serbian Armed Forces escorting the coffin.
Von der Leyen expressed deep regret for the official support and presence of senior Serbian officials at the funeral, emphasizing it as a failure to address a dark period in Europe's recent history. European Council President António Costa also lamented the images from the funeral, highlighting Mladić's role as a convicted war criminal.
Serbia, an EU candidate nation, has not initiated a new negotiating chapter with the bloc since December 2021, with the process stalled due to concerns over its rule-of-law record and refusal to sanction Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
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