This year's arrival of Ursula von der Leyen in Belgrade could be called into question due to increasingly pronounced political and social tensions in Serbia and the intensification of the glorification of the character and deeds of Ratko Mladić
Decision of the European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos to cancel her visit to Belgrade additionally opened the issue of the planned arrival of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen u Serbia, which should be part of her traditional October tour of the Western Balkans.
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During these annual visits, von der Leyen usually visits all the countries of the region, including Serbia.
However, this year's arrival in Belgrade could be called into question due to increasingly pronounced political and social tensions in Serbia, writes Radio Free Europe.
The situation was further aggravated after the death Ratko Mladić, convicted of war crimes and genocide. His death was followed by the intensification of the glorification of his image and work, as well as state logistics for the return of the body and announcements of a mass funeral.
Such circumstances caused sharp reactions from Of the European Union, and information also appeared that Brussels exerted direct pressure on the authorities in Belgrade not to organize a state funeral.
Because of all this, von der Leyen's eventual visit to Serbia in October could be politically very problematic. According to unofficial Brussels sources, there is even a possibility that, if the president of the European Commission decides to leave Belgrade out due to the political situation, the entire traditional Balkan tour will be called into question. Thus, the decision to bypass Serbia would have consequences for the rest of the planned regional road.
Toby Vogel from the Council for Democratization Policy believes, however, that canceling the entire Balkan tour would be a bad message, because it could leave the impression that Serbia has a special importance compared to other countries in the region.
At the same time, Vogel assesses that Von der Leyen should not visit Belgrade after all. He cites the political moment in Serbia as the reason and the possibility of holding early elections, which, in his opinion, could represent the biggest challenge to the president's power. Aleksandar Vučić in the last 15 years.
According to Vogel, her visit in such circumstances could be interpreted as the support of the European Commission, that is, the European Union, to Vučić in the election process. With this, according to his opinion, the EU would once again turn its back on students and other participants in student-led protests.
The information that Von der Leyen's visit to Belgrade was planned was first publicly questioned by the member of the European Parliament, Vladimir Prebilič, on social networks.
Prebilič told RFE/RL that there is no justification for the European Commission president's visit to Belgrade if her visit would create the impression that relations with the Serbian authorities are normal.
According to him, allowing Vučić to take photos with high-ranking European officials at the moment of new knowledge about state repression would represent a kind of beautification of the image of repression and would further damage the credibility of the European Union in Serbia and the wider region.
An additional element that complicates the situation is Marta Kos' decision to cancel her own visit to Belgrade. On Friday, September 4, she justified that move with the view that the glorification of Ratko Mladić, who was convicted of war crimes and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is incompatible with the values on which the European path rests.
The Kos decision, however, also opened up questions about its timing and principledness. The visit was canceled eight days after Mladić's death, during the period when the glorification of his image and work intensified and after several days of announcements about the possibility of organizing a state funeral.
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