Von der Leyen, Costa Call Mladic Funeral Shocking
Von der Leyen and Costa called scenes from Ratko Mladic's funeral in Belgrade shocking, as the European Commission in Brussels says it is weighing steps and Cluster 3 talks factor in recent events.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said today, September 8, that the scenes from Ratko Mladic’s funeral in Belgrade were shocking. They posted a joint message on X, a day after Mladic, who had been convicted by a final verdict of genocide in Srebrenica, was buried in Belgrade with military honors and in the presence of several government ministers.
Von der Leyen wrote:
“The scenes from yesterday’s funeral of Ratko Mladic in Belgrade were shocking. Elements of official support, as well as the presence of certain senior Serbian officials at the funeral, are deeply regrettable.”
Costa posted an identical message, in English: “The images from Ratko Mladic’s funeral yesterday in Belgrade were shocking. The honour bestowed upon him in Belgrade by the state is incompatible with European values.”
What Was Said at the Brussels Briefing
At the European Commission’s regular daily briefing, journalists asked spokesperson Paula Pinho whether the Union would take concrete measures against Serbia over the funeral. Pinho first pointed back to von der Leyen’s reaction and described the funeral footage in these words:
“We have seen the footage from the funeral. It speaks for itself. It was shocking.”
Asked about concrete steps toward Serbia, she answered briefly: “We are looking into it.” According to Pinho, the Commission still holds that glorifying war criminals, denying genocide and historical revisionism are incompatible with the European Union’s fundamental values, though no specific measure was announced at the briefing.
Reporters also raised the question of the Cluster 3 negotiating chapter, whose opening Serbia is still waiting for in its EU accession talks. Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said the Commission delivered a technical assessment in July of the steps needed to open the cluster, based on the circumstances at the time. He then addressed where things stand now:
“Discussions on Cluster 3 are now taking place among the member states, and they will have to proceed while taking into account the recent political developments we have witnessed.”
The Commission did not say it was withdrawing its July assessment, nor did it announce any concrete measure against Serbia.
Timeline: From the Postponed Visit to the Funeral
The reaction from von der Leyen and Costa extends a string of moves out of Brussels that has been building since early September. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled a planned visit to Serbia on September 4, a day after Mladic’s body was flown from The Hague to Belgrade on a state aircraft. Kos said at the time that the glorification surrounding Mladic’s death was incompatible with the values underpinning Serbia’s European path.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic rejected her explanation, calling it “stupid” and arguing it was not clear who had glorified Mladic, or when. He said Serbia would keep facing pressure but would not accept such assessments.
Mladic was buried on September 7 at Topcider Cemetery with military honors, in the presence of several thousand people. The funeral service was led by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, and among those present were ministers Bratislav Gasic, Nenad Vujic, Nikola Selakovic and Darko Glisic, along with Milorad Dodik, Danilo Vucic and Russian Ambassador Aleksandar Bocan Harcenko. Serbian News covered the funeral itself, including the presence of the ministers named above, earlier this week.
Mladic, the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, died on August 27 at age 84 in the detention unit in The Hague, while serving a life sentence for genocide in Srebrenica, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
What Remains Open
Von der Leyen is expected, according to Commission announcements, to tour Western Balkan countries this fall, though the itinerary has not yet been officially set. Asked at the briefing whether that trip would include a stop in Belgrade, Commission officials neither confirmed nor ruled out the possibility. It also remains to be seen whether the reference to “the most recent political developments” in Mercier’s statement will slow down the member states’ discussions on opening Cluster 3 in Serbia’s negotiations.
