Austrian MEP demands EC suspend negotiations and all payments to Serbia over Mladic tribute

Austrian MEP Helmut Brandstetter has called on the European Commission (EC) to suspend accession negotiations and all payments to Serbia, after some official representatives of the Serbian Government publicly paid tribute to former commander of the Republika Srpska Army Ratko Mladić, convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity.

He also requested that such a decision be implemented until the Serbian authorities unequivocally reject the glorification of convicted war criminals.

Until then, no further steps should be taken regarding Serbia's integration into the Schengen area, added Brandstetter, an MEP from the liberal Renew Europe group and its shadow rapporteur for Serbia.

"Ratko Mladić was convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity. When representatives of the authorities of an EU candidate country glorify such a man after his death, a red line has been crossed. This constitutes a mockery of the victims and their families and is fundamentally contrary to the values ​​of the European Union," Brandstetter said.

He was a member of the EP delegation that spent two days in Serbia in January to establish the facts about the situation in the country.