Escorted by two Serbian fighter jets, Chancellor Scholz is flying into Belgrade. His visit is about a project that is of great importance to both sides – but also highly controversial.
On Friday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) wants to launch an EU partnership with Serbia to mine lithium, which is so important for electric cars. During his visit to Belgrade, he will take part in the signing of an agreement together with President Aleksandar Vucic and the Vice President of the EU Commission, Maros Sefcovic, that will enable environmentally friendly mining of the valuable light metal in the Jadar Valley. This is where one of the largest European reserves of the globally extremely scarce and sought-after raw material, which is irreplaceable for the production of batteries, lies.
Scholz flew directly from the European summit in southern England to Belgrade in the evening. In Serbian airspace, his government plane was escorted by two Serbian fighter jets – a special tribute to the guest from Germany. The arrival was broadcast live on Serbian television and Vucic greeted Scholz personally at the airport, even though he did not land until after 11 p.m. This is also unusual.
EU prevails against China
There is a lot at stake for both sides in the raw materials agreement. Serbia’s goal is to build a value chain for electromobility, from the extraction of raw materials to battery production. This means state revenue, investments and jobs, but also greater proximity to the EU for the country, which is striving to join the European Union.
For Scholz, the agreement is part of his China strategy, which aims to reduce dependence on the world’s second-largest economy. China controls a large part of the mining and processing of lithium worldwide. One cannot, on the one hand, complain about this situation and, on the other hand, not want to engage in lithium mining oneself, said Scholz before leaving for Belgrade. “This has to happen in many places in the world, but also in Europe.” And it has to be done in such a way that it benefits the economy, but at the same time protects the environment.
China had also tried to mine lithium in Serbia, and President Xi Jinping was in Belgrade in May. The fact that the Europeans have nevertheless prevailed is being celebrated by the German side as a great success, which could perhaps also have an impact on other raw material projects.
Lithium for more than one million electric cars a year
The agreement has a long history. Three years ago, Australian mining giant Rio Tinto announced that it would invest billions in the project. The company estimates that the planned mine will be able to produce 58,000 tons of lithium annually. According to Serbian media reports, this would cover the needs of 1.1 million electric vehicles, which corresponds to around 17 percent of European production.
The car manufacturers Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis are already negotiating with Rio Tinto about participating in the project. These two and other companies will also sign a letter of intent on cooperation with the Serbian government on Friday
Environmentalists worry about drinking water
However, the project is highly controversial. Environmentalists criticize, among other things, that lithium mining pollutes the groundwater with heavy metals and therefore poses a threat to the drinking water supply of local residents. The Chancellery argues that the involvement of German companies is the best way to ensure environmentally friendly mining.
The Serbian government had cleared the way for the project just a few days ago, citing a ruling by the Constitutional Court shortly before, which had declared the annulment of the spatial planning procedure for the lithium project in 2022 to be unconstitutional.
Environmentalists, however, see the decision as a favor to the government. Criticism of the project is one of the most important issues for the Serbian opposition. The opposition accuses the West of refraining from criticizing Vucic because of the lithium. The Serbian president is accused of undermining democracy and the rule of law and of having close ties to Russia.
Background report by BIRN, English
Source: Stern
