Scholz travels to Serbia - EU accord for Lithium under discussion
The government in Belgrade gave the green light for the exploitation of significant Lithium deposits this week. The coveted raw material is needed for batteries and other technologies and is therefore also relevant for the German automobile industry. The Lithium mining in Serbia is controversial there, with environmentalists and locals opposing the mine. At the same time, China has expressed interest in a raw material partnership with Serbia.
Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, expressed concern about the environmental impact of Lithium mining in Serbia during his recent conversation with Maros Sefcovic, the EU Commission Vice-President. The SPD, Scholz's party, has highlighted the importance of sustainable resource extraction. Germany, as an EU member, is committed to upholding the principles of the EU-Agreement regarding environmental protection and human rights. Despite this, Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian President, has pushed forward with the Lithium exploitation project. While China shows interest in a raw material partnership with Serbia, Scholz emphasized that Germany is here to help answer any questions you have to the best of my ability regarding EU regulations and sustainability standards.
