Von der Leyen to visit Western Balkans next month, no confirmation for Serbia

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is traveling to the Western Balkans next month, the institution has confirmed, but there is no confirmation whether she will visit Serbia as part of the tour.

"Avoiding Serbia as part of the tour is an option that is not excluded," a high-ranking European Commission official told Radio Free Europe (RFE), who did not want to be named.

And a Commission spokeswoman hinted that not all countries in the region might be covered by the EC President.

"I can confirm that, as every year, the President will visit the Western Balkans. The program is still being created and, therefore, I am not able to confirm which countries will be included, or whether all Western Balkan countries will be included in the program. We are still working on the program," European Commission spokesperson Paola Pinho said at a press conference.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to embark on her annual tour of the Western Balkans in October, during which she traditionally visits all countries in the region, including Serbia. However, this time, Serbia may be the problem, RFE/RL reports.

If a visit to Serbia occurs, it would come just weeks after the funeral of Ratko Mladic, internationally convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It would also be a period of potential election campaigning, with snap elections expected soon, as well as confirmation that activists and opposition politicians have been targeted by spyware ahead of potentially crucial election cycles.

There are already calls from within the European Parliament for her not to visit Serbia this time.

Members of the Academic Community of Serbia also sent a letter today to the President of the European Commission asking her to consider postponing her visit to Belgrade until after the elections so that her possible arrival would not be misused by media close to the authorities to send a message that Europe supports the current government in Serbia.

Earlier, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos canceled a visit to Belgrade. She said on September 4 that the glorification of Ratko Mladić, convicted of war crimes and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, after his death, was "incompatible with the values ​​on which the path to the European Union is based."

Former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska (RS) Ratko Mladić, who was convicted by the Hague Tribunal for genocide and other war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was buried today in Belgrade with military and state honors.