In the view of the ECR Group, Serbia’s path towards European Union membership must be based on a genuine reckoning with the past, respect for the victims of the armed conflicts of the 1990s.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s decision to arrange a lavish funeral in Belgrade on 7 September for convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić has once again brought the issue of Serbia’s approach to its past into focus.

Speaking on behalf of the ECR Group during the European Parliament’s plenary debate, Croatian ECR MEP Stephen Bartulica said:

“We all agree that the funeral of war criminal Ratko Mladić was disgraceful, but it was also symptomatic of the state of Serbian society. The country continues to live in its own mythology. It lacks the courage to confront the truth about its past.”

For the ECR Group, justice for the events of the 1990s and for the victims of the Homeland War must remain a priority in relations with Serbia.

“Serbia cannot become a member of the European Union without acknowledging the aggression and paying compensation to all victims of the Homeland War. This must be a precondition for any discussion of its future membership,” said Bartulica.

“As far as Croatia is concerned, our priority must be to continue to demand justice for the victims of the Homeland War and accountability for the events of the 1990s,” he added.

The ECR Group believes that Serbia’s attitude towards its past remains a major obstacle on its path towards European Union membership.

“No one should be surprised by what recently happened in Belgrade. Serbia is nowhere near joining the European Union. The country is in denial and is even assuming the role of victim in relation to the wars of the 1990s,” he said.

Bartulica also stressed that the problem goes beyond Serbia’s relationship with and affinity towards Russia:

“This is not just about Russia and affinity towards Russia. It is about a deeper problem, and we should wake up and confront that reality,” he concluded.