The European Union is preparing to create reserves of critical raw materials—such as lithium—to safeguard its energy and digital transitions from potential geopolitical disruptions. According to Financial Times, the EU faces a worsening global security environment, prompting strategic efforts to ensure reliable access to key materials used in electric vehicles and green technologies.
As part of this strategy, Serbia’s “Jadar” lithium project was recently added to the EU’s list of strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), making Serbia one of 13 key non-EU partners, alongside Canada, the UK, and Norway.
The CRMA aims for the EU to secure by 2030:
- 10% of annual consumption of strategic raw materials through domestic extraction,
- 40% through processing,
- 25% through recycling,
- and to limit dependence on any single third country to no more than 65%.
“Jadar” is considered one of Europe’s most promising lithium deposits, with an estimated capacity of 58,000 tons of lithium carbonate per year. If realized, the project could position Serbia as a major player in the EU’s supply chain for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage.
Despite its strategic status, the project still requires full compliance with Serbia’s environmental regulations, public consultations, and domestic permitting processes. The EU emphasizes that its partnerships are based on skills development, investment, and respect for human rights—not exploitation.
An economic impact analysis by Ergo Strategy Group estimates the “Jadar” project could create over 20,000 high-paying jobs and contribute around €1.9 billion to Serbia’s economy—more than 3% of its current GDP. The EU believes the project could also help develop Serbia’s EV, battery, and raw materials sectors, attracting further investment and integration into European supply chains.
