On September 22nd of this year, the European Commission (EC) and the Government of Serbia signed a letter of intent to initiate work on a strategic partnership in the areas of batteries and critical raw materials, which includes lithium. For that portal, it was confirmed in the EC that the letter of intent of the Government of Serbia and the EU was signed in New York, when the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, met with the Vice President of the EC, Maroš Šefčivić.
Vučić then announced that he had discussed with the Vice President of the EC about the accelerated accession of Serbia to the EU, the management of raw materials, energy and mining, as well as the development of new technologies, necessary for further sustainable economic growth and environmental protection.
Regarding Demostat’s statement that part of the public in Serbia claims that Rio Tinto will open mines in Serbia and leave it devastated, and the question of whether there are mechanisms that would prevent such a possible scenario, the EC states that EU legislation ensures the highest level of environmental and social protection , including mining projects.
“As a country, a candidate for EU membership, Serbia is in the process of harmonizing its legislation with the European one, including in the field of environmental policy,” the EC states and adds that “they are advocating for the development of capacity for processing and refining in the same place where they are located and resources, as well as in the EU”.
According to the EC, this would be of key importance for the creation of local sustainable ecosystems of clean technology and zero carbon dioxide emissions.
The General Directorate for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises states that EU legislation ensures the highest level of environmental and social protection, including mining projects, and that Serbia, as a candidate country for EU membership, is in the process of harmonizing legislation with European.
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