Government of Serbia signs MoU with EU backing Rio Tinto’s Jadar lithium project

The government of Serbia and the European Union have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a strategic partnership in sustainable raw materials, battery value chains, and electric vehicles. Citizens, environmental associations and opposition parties protested against the signing. The memorandum backs Rio Tinto’s Jadar lithium project, which the protesters consider harmful to Serbia. Just three days ago, the government put the Jadar project back on track, which was stopped two years ago.

The EU and Serbia signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the sidelines of the Summit on Critical Raw Materials in Belgrade. Representatives of automotive companies, battery producers, and financial institutions also attended the meeting.

The memorandum was signed by Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović and Vice President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight Maroš Šefčovič. The memorandum was signed in the presence of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The signing was also attended by the ambassadors of Italy, Luca Gori, Germany, Anke Konrad, and USA, Christopher Hill.

Scholz: The memorandum will strengthen cooperation between the EU and Serbia in the supply of raw materials

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that lithium is important for mobility in the future, as oil has been until now. He added that it is an important European project and evidence that Europe can remain sovereign in a changing world.

In Scholz’s words, the Jadar project is good for Serbia and for the economic development of Serbia and the region. The Chancellor noted that the highest environmental protection standards would be implemented.

Scholz pointed out that the Memorandum will strengthen the cooperation between the EU and Serbia in the supply of raw materials. He said the companies and financial institutions that attended the summit have also signed agreements.

Scholz noted that Germany has high environmental protection requirements, a rich mining tradition, and extensive knowledge in the sector. Germany sees this as an obligation to implement all environmental protection standards, he said, and he added that the projects planned for Serbia must fulfil the same standards as if they were implemented in Germany.

Šefčovič: Serbia is the most prepared of all the countries that have raw materials

According to Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, the signed agreements will open the door to the most significant foreign direct investments in the history of Serbia.

He said that the EU has the most comprehensive and strict regulatory framework for sustainable development and environmental protection in the world and that all companies will have to comply with it. Šefčovič stressed that they would do everything to ensure that drinking water sources are not affected. He stressed that all the existing rules in the world will also apply in Serbia.

He noted that the EU chose Serbia because it is the most advanced in preparations, even though raw materials are also being discussed in the Czech Republic and Portugal. Serbia will be the first in Europe to have the entire value chain, Šefčovič stressed.

Vučić: Quantum leap

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić noted that the signing of the memorandum was a turning point and a quantum leap for the country. He said there is a long way to go before opening the mine and added that nothing will be hidden from the citizens during the process.

In his words, Serbia will insist on protecting the environment and people’s lives in Jadar and Rađevina and ensure that air, land and water remain clean. The German chancellor said that he would do his best so that Serbia doesn’t become only an exporter of raw materials but a country with an entire value chain with a cathode factory and ore refining; he stressed and added that Serbia would work on attracting producers of electric vehicles.

He claimed that there are no better guarantees for environmental protection than those from the EU.

When institutions are corrupt, the answer is civil disobedience

Litijum se kopati neće.

Kreni-Promeni ispred Palate Srbija, pred sastanak Olafa i Vučića.

Srbija nije na prodaju ✊🏻🇷🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZD2THD95Ys

— Kreni-Promeni (@KPromeni) July 19, 2024

Citizens, representatives of non-governmental organizations and political parties gathered not far from the Palace of Serbia, where the MoU was being signed. The police prevented them from coming closer to the building.

Savo Manojlović from the opposition Kreni-promeni (Go-Change) movement sent a message to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to leave lithium and democracy to the Serbian people and take Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and stabilocracy, N1 and Nova reported.

Jovanović: A defense plan for Gornje Nedeljice is being prepared

He added that the fight against the Jadar projects will continue through diplomatic, legal and other means. Manojlović stressed that the institutions are corrupt, leaving civil disobedience the only answer.

Member of parliament Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta, and the Ecological Uprising movement announced that they will come up with a plan for the defense of Gornje Nedeljice, a village affected by the Jadar project. Only those who are friends will be able to enter the village, and those who are in the Palace of Serbia are not friends, N1 reported.

He noted that the memorandum means that Rio Tinto will come to Nedeljice; the only question is when to displace people and soak the fertile land with concentrated sulfuric acid.

"Posrednji Srbi koji su verovali Nemcima su dobili po metak"https://t.co/Wx5zoiS3qo

— Nebojša Petković (@cikafranjo) July 19, 2024