EU Enlargement Chief Halts Serbia Visit Over Mladić Funeral Controversy

Key points

• Mladić died at 84 in The Hague while serving a life sentence for genocide and war crimes.
• His remains were flown to Belgrade on a government plane, arriving with military honors.
• EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled her visit, stating the glorification of war criminals has no place in EU candidates.
• Serbian President Vučić defended the arrangements, calling the EU's reaction 'stupid' and promising security for tens of thousands of attendees.
• Serbian officials claim the funeral is organized by retired generals, not the state, and will not include official state honors.

Background

Mladić was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo. His 2011 capture and extradition to The Hague were pivotal for Serbia's EU candidate status. Recent archive coverage noted that while Mladić is vilified by many, he remains a hero to a significant portion of the Serbian public and political establishment, with polls previously showing 40% of Serbs viewing him favorably.

How outlets are covering it

Outlets highlight a sharp divide in how the event is framed. POLITICO and Al Jazeera emphasize the EU's diplomatic response, focusing on Kos's cancellation of her visit and the warning that this behavior jeopardizes Serbia's accession. Euronews provides a more detailed account of the logistical and political nuances, noting that while the body arrived with military honors, the burial itself will lack state officials and official honors, a distinction Serbian officials stress to distance the government from the 'glorification.' Vučić's perspective, reported across all sources, is defiant, dismissing EU criticism as hypocritical and asserting the state's role is limited to ensuring security and dignity for the event, which he claims is organized by private associations.

Why it matters

This incident represents a critical test for Serbia's EU accession process, which has stalled in recent years. The EU has explicitly linked membership to adherence to specific values, including the rejection of war criminal glorification. The reaction highlights the deep-seated nationalist sentiment in the Balkans and the friction between EU standards and local political realities, potentially setting back diplomatic relations and financial support for years.

What to watch

The burial is scheduled for Monday at Topčider Cemetery in Belgrade. Security forces are preparing for a large crowd, with Vučić predicting tens of thousands of attendees. The EU will monitor the event closely, with Kos stating the coming days are a 'very important test' for Belgrade. Further diplomatic friction is likely, including potential calls within the European People's Party to cut ties with Serbia's ruling party.