European Parliament Debates Serbia’s Funeral Honors for Ratko Mladić

The European Parliament today debated Serbia’s state-supported funeral for Ratko Mladić, after European officials, regional leaders, organizations and families of war victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina condemned the decision to grant the convicted war criminal military honors.

“The European Commission calls on the Serbian authorities and all actors in the region to contribute to reconciliation and good neighborly relations. Stop using the past as a barrier to the future and begin genuine reconciliation so that all countries in the region can build a peaceful and prosperous future together in the EU, without hatred and conflict,” European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said.

“Serbian citizens have the right to a European future, and we do not want that future to be buried with Mladić. But we cannot help make that future a reality by turning a blind eye to those who celebrate him. The military honors for Mladić were a serious mistake. His victims deserve our solidarity, and the EU must take all necessary steps,” Croatian MEP Davor Ivo Stier (HDZ/EPP) said.

“With Mladić, the illusion of a European Serbia under the current government must also be buried. That is why it is entirely justified to ask whether the EU should continue accession negotiations with Serbia while it has a government like this,” said Croatian MEP Tonino Picula (SDP/S&D), who is also the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia.