The leaders of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, considered "shocking" the funeral of Ratko Mladić held in Belgrade. The former Bosnian-Serbian military commander, convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, was buried with military honors in the Serbian capital.
Senior Serbian officials were present at the funeral ceremony, including government representatives and prominent figures in the country. The presence of these Serbian officials with military honors generated strong international condemnation.
The funeral significantly complicates Serbia's candidacy for accession to the European Union in the foreseeable future. Relations between Serbia and the EU were already facing tensions, and this episode further increased the country's diplomatic difficulties in its European integration efforts.
