Marta Kos cancels Belgrade visit after glorification of Ratko Mladić, Vucic calls reason "stupid"
Kos cited the return and public praise of Ratko Mladić as incompatible with EU values; Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić called her explanation "stupid."
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos announced on September 4, 2026 that she will not visit Belgrade next week, citing public glorification surrounding the return of the remains of Ratko Mladić. Mladić was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Kos wrote on X that the ceremony in Belgrade "reminds Europe of the darkest pages in our recent history" and argued that the behaviour she described is at odds with the values required for EU accession.
Diplomatic protest and a sharp response from Belgrade
In a post on X Kos said: "The glorification of his death is incompatible with the values on which the EU path is built. That path requires facing the past, genuine reconciliation and respect for the victims of war crimes." She added that "the values that underpin our common future are not negotiable" and concluded: "In this context, I have decided not to continue with my planned visit to Serbia at this time."
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić rejected Kos's explanation, calling it, in his words, "extremely short, but stupid, as usual." Vučić accused Western officials of offering vague criticism and dismissed the charge that Belgrade was celebrating Mladić. He said: "'Glorification' of General Ratko Mladić simply does not say who celebrated anything. And when they cannot find anything concrete, then they deal with underpasses, overpasses, I suppose they should have forbidden people to appear, we should have banned funerals, we should build cemeteries for dogs."
Vučić also said he was not worried about the cancelled visit itself but objected to what he described as insulting comments aimed at Serbia and the Serbian people: "I will not allow you to humiliate our country and do not lie," he said.
The announcement marks a public rift between Brussels' enlargement envoy and Belgrade at a moment when Serbia’s EU trajectory remains politically sensitive and when symbolic gestures around wartime figures continue to inflame regional tensions.
Photo: EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS
