On Tuesday, a petition with more than 300.000 signatures of citizens opposing lithium mining in Serbia was delivered to the European Union delegation in Belgrade, after it was hinted from Brussels that this rare metal could be on the list of strategic EU projects.
In Serbia, hundreds of mass protests and road blockades have been held in the past four years following the announcement of the opening of a lithium mine due to fears that the mine, which the international corporation Tio Tinto intends to open in an agriculturally developed region in the west of the country, would have permanent and irreversible consequences for the environment.
The government, led by the Serbian Progressive Party, announced earlier that the Rio Tinta lithium mine could open in 2028 if environmental regulations are met and the necessary permits are obtained.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on March 25 in Brussels, after a meeting with EU leaders, that "in seven or eight days" the Union will declare the lithium mining project in Serbia "Jadar" as its strategic project outside the EU countries.
Vučić met in Brussels at a working dinner with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa.
"We will fight with blockades and protests in rain, shine, and snow, and lithium will not be mined in Serbia," Savo Manojlović, the leader of the Kreni-Promjeni civil movement, said today, handing over to EU representatives in Belgrade a petition with 303.000 signatures of citizens demanding that lithium mining and the "Jadar" project be excluded from strategic projects.
Manojlović told reporters that lithium mining in Serbia "is contrary to the rule of law, the principles of democracy and environmental standards," recalling that the protests are against these harmful intentions of the state authorities and the mining corporation, which has a bad reputation due to its similar projects around the world.
"The voice of the citizens is clear - we have collected 303.000 signatures," Manojović pointed out.
He told the European Union that it must "clearly understand as soon as possible that it cannot choose whether or not to mine lithium in Serbia because the citizens will not allow it "at any cost."
In addition to the Go-Change movement, the student movement and members of the academic community have announced a gathering in front of the headquarters of the EU Delegation to Serbia today and will submit a request to abandon the "Jadar" project, as well as a student letter to the European Commission.
Photo: EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
