The Alliance of Environmental Organizations of Serbia (SEOS) sent a letter to the European Commission in response to the presentation of the first group of strategic projects under the EU Law on Critical Raw Materials. SEOS expressed concern that Rio Tinto has applied for its controversial Jadar project, which involves the exploitation and processing of lithium in western Serbia.
In the letter, SEOS strongly opposed the project, stating, “No matter what decision the European Commission makes regarding this project, there will be no mines in the Jadar valley! There will be none because it is disastrous and harmful in numerous ways for the citizens of Serbia.” The alliance further emphasized that the project was developed in a non-transparent manner, based on corruption, and involved numerous violations of the Serbian Constitution, as well as Serbian and international laws and conventions.
The Environmental Alliance called on Europe to act responsibly, expressing hope that the EU would not prioritize its own interests over the well-being of others. “We hope that Europe will not destroy the very foundations on which it is built, especially when the people of Serbia are striving for European values and fighting against crime and corruption. We are waiting for Europe to demonstrate its maturity,” SEOS concluded in the letter.
