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When German Chancellor Olaf Schultz signed an EU cooperation agreement with Serbia for lithium mining, it seemed like a win-win situation. Lithium, a crucial mineral for making batteries in electric cars, could help Europe reduce its reliance on China for this resource. But the agreement has met with stiff resistance in Serbia, where a proposed lithium mine threatens to destroy agriculture in the country's west.
The region in Western Serbia holds the largest known lithium reserves in Europe. However, environmentalists fear that mining will ruin the natural landscape and contaminate groundwater with heavy metals, posing a significant risk to residents' drinking water. These concerns are not unfounded. Back in 2021, huge protests forced the Serbian government to backtrack on its plans to excavate the lithium. Protesters filled the streets of Belgrade, blocking major roads and bridges, and eventually won their case against the British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, which had its license to excavate the lithium revoked.
Now, the decision has been reversed, and Rio Tinto can begin operations. The company claims that the mine will create thousands of jobs and produce enough lithium for 1.1 million electric vehicles each year. The EU wants Europe's electric cars to be powered by European lithium as it works to cut emissions and reduce dependence on China. This has led to a change of heart in Belgrade, where Serbia's new deal with the European Union includes a commitment from all sides to uphold strict environmental and sustainability standards.
But not everyone is convinced. Protesters have been back on the streets in recent days, accusing the government of ignoring the will of the people. One protest leader, a member of the opposition, had a clear message for German Chancellor Olaf Schultz: "The majority of Serbia is against this project because there is very clear evidence that this will be an ecological disaster. What people really want here is democracy."
The streets of Belgrade echo with skepticism about the project. Many question the agreement's benefits, despite the European Union providing guarantees. "Maybe this agreement will be good," one resident said, "but I don't believe in it. We're destroying nature, and it will be done here because everything's cheaper here. It won't be done in Germany."
Protest organizers vow to continue their fight and make their voices heard. As the controversy swirls, it remains to be seen whether this lithium mining deal will bring the promised economic and energy security improvements to Europe, or if it will come at too high a cost to Serbia's environment and democracy.
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