The European People’s Party (EPP) has renewed scrutiny of Serbia’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) following the funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić, saying the events surrounding the burial cannot be ignored as it reviews the party’s status within the European political family.
The EPP’s Political Assembly said on September 29 that scenes from Mladić’s funeral in Belgrade were “deeply disturbing” and condemned what it described as public and state honours, the participation of senior Serbian officials and public expressions of support for the former Bosnian Serb military commander.
The EPP said such actions were contrary to the values of reconciliation, respect for victims and accountability that underpin the European project. It added that the developments would be taken into account as part of the ongoing scrutiny of the SNS.
The SNS has been an associated member of the EPP since 2016. The EPP launched an internal scrutiny process concerning the party’s role in September 2025, stressing at the time that the review was not an official suspension or exclusion procedure and that its outcome remained open.
Review Predates the Mladić Funeral
According to analysts quoted by Danas, the funeral was a catalyst for renewed attention rather than the starting point of the disagreement between the SNS and the EPP.
Sofija Popović of the European Western Balkans outlet told Danas that disagreements within the EPP over its relationship with the SNS had been visible for several years, including over Serbia’s position toward Russia and concerns surrounding the rule of law and democratic institutions.
She said the EPP’s latest announcement indicates that the review is approaching its conclusion, while the timing of any decision remains significant because of Serbia’s upcoming parliamentary elections.
The EPP has not announced an exclusion decision. Its official statement refers to an “ongoing scrutiny process” concerning the SNS.
Debate Over the EPP-SNS Relationship
Naim Leo Beširi, director of the Institute for European Affairs, told Danas that the relationship between the SNS and the EPP has increasingly attracted criticism because of differences between the EPP’s stated principles and concerns raised by European institutions about developments in Serbia.
Beširi pointed to issues including judicial independence, corruption investigations, electoral conditions, media freedom and relations with the European Union. These are his assessments of developments in Serbia rather than findings contained in the EPP’s September 29 statement.
The EPP itself has continued to list the SNS as an associated member party. Its current membership directory identifies the SNS as having joined in 2016 and lists one delegate in the EPP Political Assembly.
The controversy surrounding Mladić’s funeral has added a separate and highly sensitive issue to the debate. Reuters reported that thousands attended the September funeral in Belgrade and that Serbian government officials were among those present, while European officials criticized the public glorification of a figure convicted by international courts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The EPP’s September 29 statement specifically referred to Mladić as a convicted war criminal and said his crimes had been established by international courts.
No Decision on Exclusion Announced
The EPP’s current position is that the SNS remains under scrutiny. No formal decision to suspend or exclude the Serbian party has been announced.
The review was launched by the EPP Presidency in September 2025, when the party assigned Secretary General Dolors Montserrat and Vice-President Kostis Hatzidakis to lead an internal investigation. The EPP explicitly described that process as separate from a formal statutory suspension or exclusion procedure.
The latest statement therefore marks a renewed public warning from the EPP rather than a formal expulsion decision.
The issue is likely to remain politically significant as Serbia continues its EU accession process and as the country approaches its October 25 parliamentary elections.
