Brussels, 16 September 2026, dtt-net.com – The European Commission (EC) and governments of 27 member states of the EU could have discussions on whether Serbia should be sanctioned by the European bloc for glorification of convicted Serb war criminals, as was this month case with the state funeral in Belgrade for former commander of Serb forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Ratko Mladic, sentenced on Srebrenica Genocide and other war crimes in BiH.
An EC spokesperson told dtt-net.com that the EC first will have to discuss with the member states before anything like sanctions could be proposed.
“We will need to assess – together with the Member States – implications on the lack of progress on facing the crimes of the past,” an EC spokesperson told dtt-net.com when asked if the EU executive body, the Commissioner Marta Kos or/and EU’s chief of diplomacy Kaja Kallas respectively, will propose to member states any sanctions.
“…we are not proposing anything yet. First there needs to be a discussion with member states”, the spokesperson added.
The answer from the EC comes after last week call to Kos and Kajas by the BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konakovic, who in a letter called EU institutions to impose “targeted sanctions” on Serbia officials and institutions for glorification of convicted war criminals and those who deny Srebrenica Genocide.
The minister has written to Kallas and Kos, to “unequivocally and firmly condemn the revival of fascist and genocide-denying rhetoric in Serbia, and to consider targeted sanctions and other appropriate legal measures against officials and institutions that publicly glorify war criminals and deny genocide”, according to the letter published by local media.
Mladic’s coffin was transported with government plane from the Hague to Belgrade, his funeral took place with presence of Serbia army members carrying his coffin, was attended by several Serbia minister, Serb politicians from Serb entity in BiH and Serb politicians from Montenegro.
The state funeral of ten days ago was criticized by many of EU institutions, including Kos and Kallas, but minister Konakovic, said sanctions should follow against Serbia officials and institutions for glorification of war criminals and those who deny Srebrenica Genocide.
Srebrenica Genocide is denied by Serbia institutions, including by President Aleksandar Vucic, whose elder son, Danilo, also attended funeral of Mladic.
