Ratko Mladić’s glorification incompatible with EU values
Following the funeral of the convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić in Serbia, which was treated as a hero's funeral, Renew Europe initiated a European plenary debate on the glorification of war crimes in the country. Mladić was convicted of genocide and war crimes. Granting state honours to such a criminal is incompatible with every EU principle. History cannot be rewritten: the European Parliament has an unambiguous position on this matter, and other EU institutions are now following suit.
The Liberals and Democrats pushed for this debate to send a clear message to the Serbian government: there can be no EU membership or funding for a government that glorifies war criminals.
MEP Helmut Brandstätter, the Renew shadow rapporteur on the EP report on Serbia, commented after the debate:
“Anyone who honours a convicted genocidaire cannot be part of the European Union. Serbia belongs in Europe and should become part of the EU. But as long as Vučić and his regime glorify Mladić, that cannot happen.
I also call on the EPP to reconsider its affiliation with Vučić's party, the SNS. We owe it to democratic civil society in Serbia.”
Helmut BrandstätterRenew Europe MEP, Austria, NEOS – Das Neue Österreich
This follows Renew Europe's earlier stance on Serbia, as well as their continuous support for democratic voices in Serbia, and their most recent warning about the country's ongoing democratic decline, routine spyware scandals, attacks on the rule of law, and issues surrounding judicial independence, media freedom, human rights, and corruption.
MEP Brandstätter added: Mr Vučić has made it clear that he has no plans to retire and will use any trick or loophole to stay in power. The government's recent political violence indicates that he is willing to do whatever it takes. The EU should not finance the Serbian government or state. Instead, we should support the country's democratic actors who share European values and are fighting for Serbia's EU future.
Liberals and Democrats commemorate the victims of genocide and war crimes. We owe it to them to defend human dignity and reject the glorification of war criminals.