The agreement signed late last week on lithium mining in Serbia for the needs of the European Union has caused serious disagreements in the republic. The publication writes about it “Kommersant”.
The opposition has accused the authorities of turning the country into a “cheap raw material colony” and of waging a “war against its people”. At the same time, they say, lithium will become a major resource for Serbia, as oil is for Norway. Experts believe that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic sees not only financial but also geopolitical benefits in the project.
The visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission Vice President Maros Šefčović to Belgrade on July 19 was organized unexpectedly. During the meeting, a cooperation agreement was signed between Serbia and the EU on the extraction of strategic raw materials, including lithium. This resource is needed to produce lithium batteries and accumulators, which are important for electric vehicles, and to reduce dependence on imports from China.
After the signing of the agreement, participants emphasized its importance. Olaf Scholz said that lithium mining will help achieve climate goals and that lithium will have the same strategic importance as oil. The Serbian President is confident that this project, which will allow lithium to be extracted for the production of electric vehicles, will be of key importance for the country. Government officials say lithium will bring significant economic benefits to Serbia.
Vucic previously stated About the West’s preparations for a military conflict with Russia.
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Source: Gazeta
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.