European Commission: Lithium Mining Project in Jadar is Strategic for the EU

European Commission spokesperson Eirini Zarkadula stated that the European Commission has assessed that all conditions have been met to designate the lithium mining project in Jadar as one of strategic importance, adding that this could change if Serbia fails to meet certain conditions set by the EU

16.06.2025. 11:35

European Commission: Lithium Mining Project in Jadar is Strategic for the EU

Zarkadula said the Resource Management Act stipulates that every project, including Jadar, must be implemented in a sustainable way.

“This primarily involves monitoring, preventing, and minimizing environmental impacts, as well as mitigating negative social effects through responsible practices, including respecting human rights and the rights of residents and workers in the planned mining area,” she said.

She emphasized that this is especially true in cases of forced relocation, where there is potential to create quality jobs and significantly engage the local community. She added that the project must also prevent risks that could impair the proper functioning of public administration, including risks of corruption and bribery.

“The European Commission has determined that the listed criteria have been met, and it has also found that the company Rio Tinto has made exceptional efforts in terms of transparency and public debate about the project. However, if the conditions change in such a way that the project no longer meets the criteria, there are mechanisms by which the European Commission can remove the project from the list,” Zarkadula explained.

She also noted that the European Commission is well aware of the situation in Serbia and public sentiment regarding the Jadar project. “We are aware of how concerned Serbian citizens are—primarily about the opening of any mine, and especially about lithium mining—and we took that into special consideration during our assessment. That’s why it has been emphasized that if the conditions for implementing the project are not met, it will be withdrawn,” Zarkadula concluded.

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