CALL FOR ACTION / Lithium in Serbia: A Test for Europe’s Green Industrial Future

Today, at the European Parliament, I framed my discussion on Serbia’s Jadar lithium project with a simple but crucial statement:

Nothing will change if I merely tell you that environmental compliance with EU standards is a given. Nothing will change if I list the Serbian government’s clear conditions—that mined lithium must also be processed in Serbia, creating value and boosting domestic industries. Nothing will change if I give you examples of companies already investing in Serbia’s lithium value chain, like Stellantis producing EVs or ElevenES developing battery cells. These are facts. And yet, facts alone will not win the debate on lithium mining in Serbia.

Why? Because the information war on lithium mining is not about environmental standards or economic impact. It is about politics, emotions, and disinformation—driven by entrenched “old economy” interest groups and amplified by those seeking short-term political mobilization.

So, what will help?

A new way of framing the discussion—not just about Jadar as a mining project but about a much bigger issue:

Can Europe lead the future of green industrialization?

The Stakes: Europe’s Industrial Resilience vs. Energy Dependence

Europe’s ability to secure a stable, sustainable supply of lithium is not just about Serbia. It is about whether Europe can build its own future in clean energy and electric mobility or remain dependent on foreign suppliers.

Currently, the EU imports almost all of its lithium from outside the continent. Meanwhile, Serbia has the third-largest lithium reserves in Europe and could supply up to 90% of the EU’s lithium needs for battery production. Yet, while countries like the U.S. and China move aggressively to secure their critical raw materials, Europe is hesitating.

The Jadar project is not just a mining project—it is a test of Europe’s ability to act in its own long-term strategic interest.

A New Way to Talk About Lithium in Serbia

Rather than engaging in an endless cycle of fact-checking emotional, politically driven debates, we need to focus on solutions.

1. A European Regulatory Framework for Sustainable Lithium

·      The EU should create EU - SER independent Lithium Task Force to monitor environmental and industrial compliance, ensuring transparency and accountability.

·      Serbia should be fully integrated into the European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) to ensure that Serbian lithium is treated as an EU strategic resource.

2. Investing in the Full Lithium Value Chain, Not Just Extraction

• Serbia is not just offering raw materials—it is building its own lithium processing and battery production capacity.

• The European Battery Alliance should expand investment in Serbia’s lithium value chain, ensuring that Europe controls both supply and refining.

3. Countering Disinformation with Transparency and Economic Data

• The EU must recognize disinformation campaigns targeting critical raw materials projects and expose their funding sources.

• Independent economic monitoring should be established to track the long-term GDP, job creation, and industrial development impact of lithium projects.

Europe’s Choice: Lead or Fall Behind

The choice is clear. Either Europe builds a resilient, sustainable lithium value chain, securing its green industrial future, or it continues to rely on foreign suppliers—leaving itself vulnerable to geopolitical leverage and economic stagnation.

This is not just Serbia’s challenge—it is Europe’s challenge.

The EU must act decisively, support strategic lithium projects within and beyond its borders, and ensure that Serbia and the Western Balkans are fully integrated into Europe’s clean energy transition.

This is not about mining. It is about Europe’s future.

#GreenTransition #Lithium #Serbia #EuropeanIndustry #SustainableMining #EUGreenDeal #StrategicAutonomy