Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said in Brussels that the European Commission will grant the Jadar project, a lithium mining and processing project by Rio Tinto in Serbia, "strategic status" within "seven or eight days." Some European environmental organizations emphasized that they will challenge this designation, as well as several other projects recently approved by the EU. These projects include lithium mining proposals in Portugal and Spain, as well as the Rovina copper and gold mine in Romania. The European Commission yesterday approved the first batch of 47 strategic projects within the EU for the production of critical raw materials, most of which are used for battery manufacturing. According to the announcement, "potential decisions on facilities in third countries" will be made in subsequent stages.
The EU's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) stipulates that such strategic projects are eligible for administrative and financial support. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is confident that the EU will declare the Jadar lithium mining project in the western part of his country as a strategic project within "seven or eight days." The proposal targets the underground mine and processing plant of Rio Tinto near the city of Loznica, including the mining waste dump.
Non-governmental organizations and community associations from Serbia, Romania, Germany, Spain, and Portugal have reacted to the European Commission's decision and Vučić's subsequent statement. They said they will challenge the designation of the controversial mining projects as strategic projects through legal means. Local residents and environmentalists have long opposed these projects. They specifically pointed out the Jadar project, as well as the Mina do Barroso and Mina do Romano lithium mines in Portugal, the Mina Doade and Mina Las Navas lithium mines in Spain, and the Rovina copper and gold mine plan in Romania. Environmental organizations have hired lawyers to file legal objections against some mining projects being designated as strategic projects. The cheap raw material extraction for the automotive industry in Germany and other regions also threatens the way of life of people in the Covas do Barroso area in northern Portugal. Environmentalists also listed the Zinnvald lithium mining project in Germany, although it has not yet been marked as a strategic project.
Amid increasing geopolitical pressure, the EU is working to establish partnerships with third countries to obtain minerals and to strengthen domestic metal mining in order to promote the energy transition. Activists say the CRMA allows public interest to override other interests. Affected communities have been warning since the drafting of the bill that the current actions of the government are not in line with EU regulations such as the Habitats Directive, the Water Framework Directive, and the Birds Directive.
