German Embassy on lithium protests: Serbian concerns taken very seriously

In response to Nova.rs, which asked about the embassy's position on the widespread protests in Serbia against lithium mining, and on the treatment of activists who have recently been detained or sentenced, the embassy said they have been closely following the demonstrations.

Peaceful protests and freedom of expression are fundamental rights and crucial to the democratic process. It is essential that critical voices are heard without fear of intimidation, the German Embassy told Nova.

We take the Serbian people’s concerns regarding environmental risks very seriously, it emphasized. It is crucial that projects in Serbia, as well as planned lithium projects in Germany, adhere to strict environmental standards, said the embassy, adding that Germany is ready to offer its expertise in this context.

The European Union (EU) and Serbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable raw materials on July 19 in Belgrade, in the presence of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Over the past month, protests have erupted across Serbia against Rio Tinto's Jadar project and other lithium mining initiatives.

Activists are calling for the Serbian government to pass a law prohibiting the exploration and mining of lithium and boron.