EU enlargement chief condemns glorification of war criminals following Mladic funeral

Kos stressed that the European Union stands alongside all victims of war crimes, survivors, and their families. Highlighting the broader geopolitical context, she noted that the stability and prosperity of the Western Balkans remain in Europe’s strategic interest, with Serbia playing a pivotal role.

“Serbia has a central role and responsibility in this regard,” Kos said, adding that by applying for EU membership, the nation committed to respecting European principles. “The European Commission has clearly stated that the glorification of war criminals, genocide denial, and revisionism are intrinsically incompatible with these values. There is no place for this in the European Union, nor in candidate states.”

Recalling her visit to Srebrenica last year to mark the burial of additional victims three decades after the genocide, Kos described the footage from Mladic’s funeral as “deeply disturbing” and indicative of a failure to confront the past.

“It was particularly disturbing to see Serbian ministers, state officials, and military representatives, alongside leaders and politicians from Republika Srpska, attending the funeral and publicly paying tribute to a war criminal,” Kos remarked. She urged regional leaders to stop using the past as an obstacle to the future and to initiate genuine reconciliation.

However, the Commissioner emphasized that these scenes do not represent the whole of Serbian society, noting that many citizens, young people, entrepreneurs, and journalists seek a democratic future.

“Being a friend of Serbia also means being honest with Serbia,” Kos stated. “We can disagree on policies and have tough conversations about reforms, but we cannot negotiate on the dignity of victims of genocide and war crimes.”

Concluding her address, Kos affirmed that Europe will expect Serbia to face its history honestly, including its darkest chapters, whilst maintaining that the Commission will continue supporting Serbia’s path toward European integration.