EU condemns Serbia’s ministers for attending funeral of war criminal Mladic
News Source
•Tue, 08 Sep 2026 15:01:36 +0000
📰 What Happened
European Union leaders have condemned senior Serbian officials who attended the funeral of Ratko Mladic, a convicted war criminal. Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa called images of the ceremony 'shocking'. Serbia wants to join the EU.
Serbia's defence and justice ministers were present, along with church leaders and officials from Republika Srpska. President Vucic had already downgraded the event after a plan for military honours caused global anger. The EU says the funeral showed Serbia has not faced its dark past.
🔍 The Backstory
Mladic led Bosnian Serb forces during the wars that broke up Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Courts found him guilty of genocide for the Srebrenica massacre, where more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed. He died in prison while serving a life sentence.
In Serbia, some still treat Mladic as a hero. Thousands joined his burial in Belgrade. The funeral has reopened painful questions about how the Balkans remember the wars and whether Serbia accepts the verdicts of international courts.
🎯 Why It Matters
Serbia is a candidate to join the EU. Events like this test whether it shares European values, and they shape peace and trust across the Balkans for years to come.
European Union leaders have condemned senior Serbian officials who attended the funeral of Ratko Mladic, a convicted war criminal. Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa called images of the ceremony 'shocking'. Serbia wants to join the EU.
Serbia's defence and justice ministers were present, along with church leaders and officials from Republika Srpska. President Vucic had already downgraded the event after a plan for military honours caused global anger. The EU says the funeral showed Serbia has not faced its dark past.
Mladic led Bosnian Serb forces during the wars that broke up Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Courts found him guilty of genocide for the Srebrenica massacre, where more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed. He died in prison while serving a life sentence.
In Serbia, some still treat Mladic as a hero. Thousands joined his burial in Belgrade. The funeral has reopened painful questions about how the Balkans remember the wars and whether Serbia accepts the verdicts of international courts.
Serbia is a candidate to join the EU. Events like this test whether it shares European values, and they shape peace and trust across the Balkans for years to come.