EU and Serbia Sign Landmark Deal on Critical Raw Materials, Amidst Environmental Concerns and Geopolitical Tensions

The European Union and Serbia have signed a strategic partnership on critical raw materials, aiming to promote sustainable development of new industries and high-quality jobs related to the electric vehicle value chain. The deal, signed by EU Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedovič Handanović, is seen as a significant step towards reducing Europe's dependence on China for critical raw materials such as lithium.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who attended the signing ceremony, praised the deal, saying it was an "important European project" that would help the continent remain sovereign in a changing world. The deal has been criticized by environmental groups and local communities, who fear that the extraction of lithium and other critical raw materials could have devastating environmental consequences.

The signing of the agreement comes amidst ongoing protests in Serbia against a $2.4 billion mining project launched by British-Australian mining company Rio Tinto. Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets to oppose the project, citing concerns over environmental hazards and the potential displacement of local communities.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has promised that the lithium excavation will only go ahead with the highest ecological standards, and that automakers and battery producers in Germany and other EU states will build factories in Serbia, rather than directly exporting raw materials to those countries.

The deal has also been seen as a boost to Vučić's hard-line policies, which have been criticized by opposition groups. Vučić has maintained close ties with China and Russia, despite Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and has faced criticism for his handling of the country's accession to the EU.

In a separate development, Vučić revealed that he has not spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin for two and a half years, suggesting that Putin has chosen not to engage with him in order to avoid putting Serbia's leadership at risk and increasing foreign policy pressure on the country.

The signing of the strategic partnership between the EU and Serbia marks a significant shift in the country's economic and environmental trajectory, and is seen as a key step towards reducing Europe's dependence on China for critical raw materials. However, the deal has also sparked concerns over the environmental and social implications of large-scale mining projects, and has highlighted the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.