The EU and lithium in Serbia: economic interests prioritized over rights.

5 June 2025

OBCT

EU lists Serbian Jadar lithium mine as strategic, sparking criticism over economic interests overriding citizen rights and environmental concerns.

đź”— Read the article on balcanicaucaso.org

[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

The European Commission has designated the Jadar lithium mine in Serbia as a strategic project for critical raw materials located outside the EU. This inclusion, part of a broader initiative to boost European industry in sectors like electric mobility and renewables, is set to receive coordinated support, with an estimated total investment of 5.5 billion euros. While the project aims to secure lithium and boron for the EU, it has drawn significant criticism. Environmentalists and local populations are concerned about groundwater contamination, agricultural pollution, and high water consumption. MEP Vladimir PrebiliÄŤ criticized the decision, arguing that economic and geopolitical interests are overriding citizens’ rights and environmental sustainability, and urged the Commission to prioritize human rights and democratic integrity over short-term economic gains.

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