EU and Serbia conclude agreement on lithium mining

Scholz Travels to Serbia - EU Agreement for Lithium on the Table

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to discuss a future EU agreement for sourcing lithium and related materials from Serbia. The Serbian government and multiple companies intend to sign a memorandum of understanding. The decision to exploit significant lithium deposits in Serbia has been controversial due to environmental concerns, with opposition from environmentalists and local residents. Meanwhile, China has expressed interest in a raw material partnership with Serbia. Chancellor Scholz praises Serbia's decision to extract lithium for electric vehicles, highlighting the potential for job creation, prosperity, and value addition in Serbia. The EU and Serbia sign an agreement to collaborate on lithium extraction in the Jadar Valley, aiming to establish a value chain for electromobility. The project faces opposition from environmentalists who raise concerns about groundwater pollution. Despite this, the Serbian government is committed to the project, and China's bid for lithium mining in Serbia has been rejected. Chancellor Scholz also pledges support for environmental protection and the establishment of the value chain. The agreement aims to reduce Europe's dependence on lithium imports from China, and Germany offers its expertise and experience to assist with the project.