The European Union will persist in emphasizing the need for improvements in the rule of law as a fundamental condition for Serbia’s EU membership. However, due to Serbia’s apparent readiness to proceed with lithium mining, this concern might be lessened in practice, according to sources from European Western Balkans.
While the recent signing of the Memorandum on cooperation regarding critical raw materials is not expected to accelerate Serbia’s EU accession process, there is a concern that the European Union may overlook democratic deficiencies, including media freedom and human rights issues, if Serbia begins supplying lithium to the EU.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed on July 19 in Belgrade with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and EU Commissioner for Green Agenda Maroš Ševčovič in attendance, focuses on strategic partnership in sustainable raw materials and electric vehicle supply chains. This deal comes shortly after the Constitutional Court of Serbia ruled that the government’s suspension of the “Jadar” lithium project was unconstitutional.
The Serbian government halted the Jadar project in 2022 following extensive protests from environmental groups and citizens. This decision canceled the spatial plan for Loznica and all permits related to Rio Tinto, the company interested in lithium mining.
Florian Biber: Potential for EU to “Speak with Two Voices”
Florian Biber, Director of the Center for Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz and coordinator of the Balkans in Europe Advisory Group (BiEPAG), tells European Western Balkans that while the EU will likely continue to stress rule of law issues, it may simultaneously prioritize strategic interests. Biber hopes that the next EU enlargement commissioner will be more effective in upholding credibility regarding rule of law issues.
Biber notes that the deal on lithium mining suggests that strategic interests, such as obtaining critical raw materials for the Green Deal, might overshadow concerns about rule of law. He argues that this paradoxical stance could undermine the EU’s enlargement process, despite its formal commitment to democratic principles.
Đorđe Dimitrov: Brussels’ critical stance may wane due to lithium
Đorđe Dimitrov, a researcher at the Center for European Policies (CEP), also points out that while the Memorandum might not expedite Serbia’s EU path, it will strengthen cooperation on critical raw materials and foster a strategic partnership between Serbia and the EU.
Dimitrov affirms concerns that the EU might overlook Serbia’s democratic deficiencies due to its need for lithium. He explains that the EU requires alternative lithium sources to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, as it currently depends on Chile and China for this resource. Despite having lithium within its borders, the EU avoids mining it due to environmental concerns, making Serbia an attractive alternative.
Dimitrov notes that since Serbia’s willingness to proceed with lithium mining became clear, the EU’s criticism of Serbia has diminished, with less focus on election irregularities and rule of law issues, and even the sanctions against Russia are no longer highlighted.
