EU: Glorification of War Criminals Unacceptable in EU Candidate Countries

European Commision

The European Commission (EC) said on Aug. 28 that it is up to the Serbian authorities to choose their role in the funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic but cautioned that the glorification of war criminals is contrary to the most fundamental European values and is unacceptable inside the European Union (EU) and in EU candidate states.

Following Mladic's death, the Union referred to him as a war criminal who had been serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity and genocide in Srebrenica. "The European Commission considers any glorification of war criminals to be contrary to the most fundamental European values and something that has no place either in the EU or in countries that are candidates for EU membership," the EC said in a response to Radio Free Europe.

The EU highlighted the responsibility of Serbian institutions regarding the funeral of Mladic, who died in The Hague on Aug. 27. "If Ratko Mladic is buried in Serbia, it is up to the Serbian authorities to confirm any role that they might have in organizing Ratko Mladic's funeral or in the funeral itself," the Commission said in its response to the RFE.