New Actor: EU Warns Serbia on Mladic Funeral's Impact

EU enlargement chief Marta Kos warned that Serbia’s handling of Ratko Mladić’s funeral will be a “very important test” for its path to join the bloc and could affect the bid. She said the response will be judged against Belgrade’s alignment with EU foreign and security policy, which stands at roughly 60%, the lowest among candidates.

Member state leaders added pressure. Ireland’s Thomas Byrne said a state funeral would be unacceptable and warned against senior officials memorialising Mladić. Belgium’s Maxime Prévot said honouring him runs against EU values on human dignity, human rights and fighting impunity. Croatia’s Andrej Plenković said giving the highest honours would be like slamming the door on EU membership.

Serbia has flown Mladić’s remains home on a government plane, with soldiers carrying a coffin wrapped in the Serbian flag on television. The justice minister said he would be buried with state honours, but President Aleksandar Vučić later said the family would decide and no official plans were confirmed. The EU warning puts Serbia on notice that any state honours or official commemoration could count against its accession push.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources