Democracy and geopolitics in the EU-Serbia lithium deal

Organised by

• Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies
• GGP: Global Governance Programme
• Eastern Europe as Laboratory of Change Working Group

Lithium mining has become a contentious issue in Serbia, with the Rio Tinto corporation leading a project supported by the Serbian government and the EU. Local citizens and environmental activists oppose this initiative, fearing the environmental costs, which could disproportionately impact Serbia—a country already burdened by extractivism and coal dependency. Initially, the EU's position was also influenced by concerns over Serbia’s weak environmental governance. However, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU prioritised access to critical minerals, leading to stronger support for mining in Serbia. This renewed push ignited civil disobedience, prompting a harsher response from the Serbian government. Amid the geopolitical turbulence, a narrative emerged portraying opposition to Rio Tinto as anti-Western, despite most resistance stemming from pro-EU, democratically inclined citizens. This dynamic risks further undermining the EU’s credibility in Serbia, a candidate country with fragile support for EU integration, while underscoring the significant role of grassroots civic engagement in defending democratic rights.