Following widespread reactions to the claim that Ratko Mladić’s funeral was not a state event, European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said that the European Union is considering possible further steps that could be taken against Serbia.
Asked by journalists whether Serbia could face consequences over the way the funeral of the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska was conducted, Pinho described the scenes from the ceremony as “shocking.”
She said the level of official support, including the participation of ministers and the military, demonstrates a failure to confront a dark chapter of recent European history and is contrary to the values of the European Union.
“As for your question about the next steps, we are considering the possibilities,” Pinho said.
Pinho added that she was not aware of any official contact between Croatian leaders and the European Commission regarding the matter. However, she stressed that European institutions did not wait for further reactions before making their position on Mladić’s funeral clear.
She reiterated that the EU has already made clear that “any glorification of war criminals, denial of genocide and revisionism are contrary to fundamental European values and have no place in the EU or in candidate countries seeking membership.”
Asked about European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s upcoming visit to the Western Balkans, Pinho said that plans for the visit are still being prepared. She added that there is currently no information on whether Serbia will be included in the itinerary.
