When they least expected it, especially after the recent visits of European officials to Belgrade, the citizens of Serbia were showered with cold water from Brussels - the European Union declared lithium mining in Jadro a strategic project.
This move by the EU is rightly interpreted in Serbia as a new lifebelt for Aleksandar Vučić and a knife in the back the enormous democratic potential that this country has been demonstrating and proving on the streets of Serbian cities every day for more than six months. And not only that. By including the Jadar project in its strategic projects, the EU has further reduced the support of Serbian citizens for the process of joining this international organization.
With this act, Brussels has literally shown that Serbia has nothing to hope for when it comes to its imminent EU membership, but also that lithium exploitation is its only interest when it comes to this country. The government sees lithium mining as hope and a chance for survival, and few believe the words of the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Ana Brnabić: "We will use our lithium for the wealth of our people."
Lithium mining
No political organization, except those in power in Serbia, supports the mining of lithium in one of the most beautiful parts of Serbia. If the government were honest with the people, it would have triumphantly announced to its citizens long ago that the Chinese company Zi Jin, which owns two copper mines in Bor, recently became the owner of a territory in Serbia larger than the territory of the community of municipalities with a Serbian majority in Kosovo. This is the principle by which mining companies operate. The question is who would mine lithium in Serbia and on what area.
Why this is Aleksandar Vučić's lifeline is more than logical. Vučić is also ingratiating himself with Brussels in this way. The Serbian president's argument could sound like this: If you want to replace me and support the students, your electric cars will not have lithium batteries, because the Jadar project will not come to life if I am not in power.
And not just the Jadar project. Vučić's big projects like Expo, the national stadium, highways are also under attack. The Serbian president is doing all these jobs with foreigners - and in agreement with them. Without him, there won't be much profit for foreigners either - that's clear as day.
Slovenian MEP Irena Joveva probably couldn't have imagined how right she was when she said in Belgrade over the weekend that the EU needs to decide whether the principles on which the Union was founded or the interests it is guided by are more important. On the same day that Vučić, quite nervous, called out officials from Brussels for the umpteenth time at a press conference using undiplomatic language and with a great deal of disdain, this time the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, arrived from Brussels cold shower.
Vučić sees what suits him
Is it possible that Jadar, Expo, the construction of the metro, Rafales, the General Staff building, cable reels... are so important to the EU that Brussels would turn a blind eye to the lack of media freedom, human rights, democratic and fair elections, the existence of political prisoners in Serbia, but also to open opposition to the EU's foreign policy towards Russia and China. What kind of world do we live in? Does this mean that the EU will turn its head tomorrow because of lithium, as it does today when it comes to the struggle of the youth of a country to live normally, and if Vučić starts to militarily defend Republika Srpska or liberate Kosovo?
If we are used to Vučić seeing what suits him, it is surprising that the EU is not so attentive to the opposition of the people when it comes to the exploitation of lithium. Not so long ago, many people were talking about the fact that lithium will lead to the fall of the government in Belgrade. This is a topic that is devoid of ideology and on which everyone agrees. Both left and right, citizens and peasants, young and retired. The vast majority of people have a negative attitude towards this possibility. Despite this, the EU decides to turn a blind eye to all the troubles it has faced when it comes to the current government in Serbia and to wind in back Vučić's idea of lithium as salvation for the country.
If Vučić is to be believed all these years, Serbia is an economic tiger, and why would such a tiger need lithium? Serbia will lose hectares and hectares of fertile soil in years when food production could be crucial for the future of the planet. Serbia is giving that up in order to take some measly mining rent, because RioTinto, like Zi Jin, will certainly export a huge percentage of the raw material from Serbia.
The resentment of Serbian citizens
Serbian citizens, as well as students, are outraged by this news from Brussels and are unequivocally saying that lithium will not be mined and that they will defend the country by all means. A rebellion is also being announced, and there is no doubt about it, because Serbia has been in rebellion for six months now.
The EU already has a serious problem with Serbia. Not only is the government holding back the country's European progress, but Brussels is also clearly sending messages that seem to sing - there is nothing to be gained from Serbian membership in the EU.
Vučić has clearly learned his lesson well from Slobodan Milošević. The former Serbian president constantly argued with representatives of the international community, contradicted them, and avoided meetings with them. The current president is cooperating in the area in which he has proven to be the best, which is concessions and delivery, or rather, delivery. He makes his EU interlocutors business partners and does not care about the interests of the state. The only interest he is occupied with is to remain in power and there is no price he is not willing to pay for it.
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