Is Serbia Becoming a Mining Colony for the West?
The tabloid press controlled by the Serbian government is ecstatic about the lithium deal with the European Union. Independent media, analysts, and environmentalists are horrified by the agreement, accusing Berlin and Brussels of trying to turn the country into a raw materials colony of the EU, according to a correspondent for the most read Austrian newspaper.
He argues that the “fast visitors from Berlin and Brussels” have long left Belgrade, but the signatories?
The Lithium Deal in Serbia Sparks Controversy
The signing of the “lithium deal” continues to stir up a media frenzy in Serbia. Two opposing views on the signed Memorandum are illustrated in Serbian headlines: “Serbia leaps into the future with lithium” (Serbian Telegraph) and “The Jadar mine will bring billions to Serbia” (Informer) on one side, and “Serbia is turning into a mining colony” (Nova) on the other.
Roser also points out Vlade Janković’s statement that the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is “not a sign of gratitude, but a deadly embrace.”
The Corruption Scandal in Serbia
An Austrian newspaper reporter writes about the deep corruption in a country where billions are being promised, but little care is given to underground water reserves, leading environmentalists to criticize a controversial project over the years.
He also mentions the opposition’s accusations that Schultz did not provide “any concrete guarantees” for respecting the European Union’s environmental standards in Serbia, as well as the words of Professor Florian Bieber from Graz, who stated that the EU and Germany have “replaced democracy with profit.”
The future of lithium mining in Serbia and the EU’s perspective on the Western Balkans
Austrian newspaper “Die Presse” reports that there are no independent institutions in Serbia and there is “no guarantee” that the mining project will comply with domestic, and even EU standards. This raises concerns about the environmental impact and the overall sustainability of the project.
