European Commission President's Balkan tour faces uncertainty over Serbia visit

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is planning an annual tour of the Western Balkans in October, but her visit to Serbia remains uncertain. The potential trip follows significant diplomatic tension regarding the funeral of Ratko Mladić, a convicted war criminal, in Belgrade. EU officials and leaders, including Antonio Costa, expressed condemnation over the presence of Serbian officials at the funeral, noting it contradicts the values required for Serbia’s EU integration.

In the European Parliament, a group of approximately 20 MEPs has called on the Commission to consider suspending or freezing Serbia’s accession process until the government unequivocally rejects the glorification of individuals convicted of genocide and war crimes.

Within Serbia, the Academic Community has urged von der Leyen to postpone her visit until after the upcoming elections. They expressed concern that her presence could be instrumentalized by state-aligned media to falsely suggest European support for the current administration during a sensitive campaign period. Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated he would not attend the funeral due to a pre-scheduled official visit from the President of Uzbekistan.