Austrian MEP Helmut Brandstetter has officially requested the European Commission to immediately suspend membership negotiations with Serbia, as well as to block European Union funds and payments to Belgrade.
The request comes after public tributes paid by representatives of Serbian authorities to the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, Ratko Mladic, convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity.
Brandstetter, part of the liberal "Renew Europe" group and the European Parliament's shadow rapporteur for Serbia, demanded that the measures remain in force until the authorities in Belgrade clearly and unequivocally distance themselves from the glorification of war criminals.
The MEP also demanded that, until such distancing is achieved, no further steps be taken regarding Serbia's integration into the Schengen area.
"Ratko Mladic has been convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity. When representatives of the authorities of an EU candidate country, after his death, glorify such a person, a red line has been crossed. This constitutes a mockery of the victims and their families and is in fundamental contradiction with the values of the European Union," Brandstetter declared.
The honors for Mladic and the involvement of Serbian state representatives have also caused reactions in the United States. One American congressman compared the action to a hypothetical situation where Germany would give state honors to Adolf Hitler.
