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September 10, 2025Open Access

Lithium, Law, and the Limits of EU Sustainability

Key Points

Lithium mining may reshape the sustainability landscape in the EU region, impacting local environments and economies.
The recent MoU emphasizes the EU's intention to engage in sustainable practices concerning lithium extraction.
This research assesses the implications of Jadarite mining on environmental sustainability and regulatory frameworks.
The collaboration between the EU and Serbia sparks debates on balancing resource extraction and ecological preservation.

Abstract

In July 2024, the European Commission entered into a strategic partnership on critical raw materials with Serbia by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sustainable raw materials and battery value chains. Three days before signing the MoU, the Serbian government had decided to renew the spatial plan for the realization of the “Jadar” project, which includes the exploitation of the mineral Jadarite in western Serbia. These two events have signaled the readiness of the Serbian regime to allow lithium mining in western Serbia and the EU’s commitment to exploit a source of critical raw material (CRM) in its neighborhood, particularly in the Western Balkans.

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