Strasbourg: The European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos on Tuesday highlighted the European Union's firm stance against the glorification of war criminals, denial of genocide, and historical revisionism, emphasizing that such practices are fundamentally incompatible with EU values and have no place in countries seeking EU membership.

According to Anadolu Agency, Kos referenced the funeral of former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic during a European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg, France. She expressed her dismay at the public honoring of Mladic, who was convicted of genocide and other war crimes, calling the images from his funeral "profoundly disturbing" and an indication of the region's failure to address its past.

Kos expressed particular concern over the presence of Serbian ministers, state officials, military representatives, and leaders from Republika Srpska at the funeral. She urged Serbian authorities and regional actors to actively work towards reconciliation and fostering good-neighborly relations.

While acknowledging the importance of respecting Serbia's identity and history, Kos made it clear that the EU expects Serbia to confront its past honestly, including acknowledging its darkest chapters. She emphasized that while political disagreements and discussions about Serbia's European path can continue, the dignity of genocide and war crimes victims is non-negotiable.

Mladic, a former commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, passed away in The Hague on August 27 at the age of 84 while serving a life sentence for his crimes during the 1992-95 Bosnian War. He was convicted for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed.

His body was transported from The Hague to Belgrade and received with a guard of honor, followed by a funeral ceremony that sparked widespread condemnation across Europe.