World · Malaysia Bureau
EU condemns Serbian officials' attendance at Mladic war crimes funeral
European Union leaders have expressed dismay over the presence of Serbian officials at the funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic, saying such official support undermines Serbia's bid for EU membership.
LSN Malaysia ·
Top EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa said the attendance of Serbian government representatives at Mladic's funeral contradicts the values Serbia must uphold to progress towards European Union accession.
Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb military commander, was convicted of war crimes including genocide during the 1990s Balkan conflicts. His presence at official state functions or public memorials has long been a sensitive issue in the region and among Western institutions.
The EU leaders underscored that Serbia's path toward membership requires comprehensive adherence to international justice standards and accountability for past atrocities. Official attendance at the funeral of a convicted war criminal signals a failure to fully embrace these principles, they indicated.
Serbia has faced mounting pressure to balance its EU aspirations with domestic political sensitivities surrounding its military past. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between Belgrade's European integration goals and internal divisions over how to address the legacy of the Balkan wars.
The EU's rebuke adds to international scrutiny of Serbia's commitment to transitional justice and reconciliation efforts across the former Yugoslav republics.