EU signs lithium agreement with Serbia amid protests | DW News

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has signed an EU co-operation agreement with the government of Serbia on lithium excavation. The mineral is used to make batteries for electric vehicles. The agreement has run into resistance in Serbia, as a lithium mine would destroy agricultural in the west. The EU is keen to shift its reliance on China for natural resources towards Europe. DW spoke to environmental activists in Serbia about the project.
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#EU #Serbia #Lithium

[@stevan685]

The president of Serbia has no right to make any agreements with anyone for mining he broke our law ! Not happening !!!!

[@ana-9648]

True, only Parlament has right to make such a decision, so this agreement is practicaly void of any legal power.

[@ivanjoldic826]

​@@ana-9648but the Parliament is just a puppet of the president and it will inevitably appprove anything he decides. You know that.

[@Kosac07]

abd people voted for him and the parliament he leads with overwhelming majority. People support the project, you know...

[@franciscobahamondefranco7321]

​@@Kosac07 Tisina boturdo

[@Kosac07]

@@franciscobahamondefranco7321 hej zdravo praznoglavac! otkud ti ovde :D

[@miloszuma4348]

Serbian people are against this mine and it won't happen!

[@alexandrabogdanovic3748]

Ne lazi, to upoce nije istina.

[@vladas45]

​@@alexandrabogdanovic3748Ajde barem se ponašaj kao da si normalan, ok?

[@serbtesla]

@@alexandrabogdanovic3748 ma jok I nije. Što ne kopaju kod sebe kad je to lepo i fino.

[@PrcBox13]

Glasajte ponovo za Vučića, čovjek prodao Kosovo, prodao obale rijeka, prodao šume, sad litijum dolazi .. narodu dovoljno da pricas kako si patriota, par puta uzviknes Zivela Srbija i mozes raditi sta hoces

[@Kartraceone]

​Zašto lupaš na Hrvatskom?

[@gugy6541]

Myself a Serb, pro left, watching this, makes me hate EU like the rest of the country. I'm so sickened of the double standards 🤮

[@jobrock1079]

Leftists are hypocrites.

[@BojanBojovic]

This is called politics. Everyone has their agenda. You Serbs naively believe that politics should take only morality into consideration. Political decisions are not easy, this is why politics is done by people who understand it. It is true that mining lithium will cause ecological problems, it is true that the EU does not want China and Russia to get their hands over the Serbian lithium, it is also true that the EU does not want it on their territory, however it is also true that Serbia is looking at the abyss financially and politically so there is not much more choice, it is of course true that Serbia does not care about its ecology everywhere else in the country and this is used by the non-existence opposition to get some political points as they are not able to do much otherwise, and in the end if this lithium mining is done by Russia, China or Serbia themselves, the ecology situation would be even worse. So please stop crying about reality not being fair to you Serbs and think hard about the least harmful decision about this, I would say opportunity.

[@D_LEGEND]

​@@BojanBojovic Ne 💩

[@bulthaosen1169]

​@@BojanBojovicoh more excuses. If something like this was done in Asia or africa then all you Europeans would be complaining about it. It's always when EU does it it's OK but when others do it it's not.

[@srb998]

​@@BojanBojovic Bojan Bojovic: "you serbs" 😂

[@wattd0youm3an]

"This quiet region in Western Serbia holds the largest known lithium reserves in Europe."... That is a lie!!! Portugal has the largest lithium reserves in Europe and the eighth largest worldwide. Why don't they dig there?

[@blacklion8208]

It's been approved in Portugal this year to further exploit lithium mining for batteries.

[@snezanaschwindsackl2240]

Österreich und Deutschland haben viel größere vorkommen, aber sie wollen ihr Land nicht zerstören

[@linnyschlamm3310]

You are right. Who are the eight largest lithium producers? Australien Chile China Argentinien Brasilien Simbabwe Portugal Kanada

[@bildsteinnela8280]

Sebie is not in Europe and will never be ( only geografic)

[@gordiestevan1662]

@bildsteinnela8280 That’s right - so go dig your lithium elsewhere!

[@garden.]

Germany has more than twice as many lithium reserves as Serbia, but they will give guarantees that Rio Tinto, which is not a company from the EU and which is known for not respecting any environmental protection standards, but is very famous for corruption scandals, will respect the standards in an almost a dictatorial country like Serbia... Really?

[@hot_ice_e1ite46]

well according to the video, if you watched it, they said Serbia has the largest lithium reserves in europe, not Germany. though I don't know anything about that so I don't know if its true.

[@aramisone7198]

They said British-Austrian company and Austria is in the EU but how many people care about the environment? How do people care about the environment do people recycle or throw trash in a bin for example? Not what i have seen.

[@minadobra1]

@@hot_ice_e1ite46 It is just another lie. There are many bigger countries with more lithium.

[@garden.]

@@aramisone7198 British-Australian, not Austrian...

[@garden.]

@@hot_ice_e1ite46 That is totally false information. Germany and the Czech Republic have more lithium, but they also have a problem with possible pollution in production in those countries. They don't have that problem if lithium is extracted in Serbia.

[@m.j.5333]

Germany never was friend to serbian people..

[@frostflower5555]

Absolutely never. They wanted to Germanize the Serbs.

[@drnda2007]

@@frostflower5555 delimicno su uspeli, slovenci, hrvati

[@BranislavB-hx9zy]

How many millions Serbs now live in the Western world EU and NATO countries, these Serbs send billions of Euros and USD to Serbia. Serbia without the West is zero, in deep poverty! What has Serbia got from Putin, only credits they have to pay interest on! Serbia is not a friend of the EU, most serbs 75% loves Putin! If Serbia is against Lithium extraction for environmental reasons, why does Serbia import Lithium products from other countries? False double standards from Serbia as usual! Serbia agrees to EU companies risking their capital in Serbia to open hundreds of thousands of new jobs in Serbia, Serbia has received billions of Euros in financial aid from taxpayers in the EU. Serbian consumers are happy to use technology that contains rare minerals and metals, but double moralists in Serbia will not risk their own capital, risk their tax money and will not contribute to extracting and providing the EU market with rare minerals and metals that are in products Serbs use daily! In addition, Serbia is Putin's Trojan horse in Europe, undermining the EU politically!

[@serbonaapplications2149]

Плус геноцид над Лужичким Србима

[@starchild890]

True but most Serbs drive WV, BMW and Mecedes........go figure....

[@aleksandarnovakovic4954]

literally western imperialism

[@icu17siberia]

no EV's from China....same thing

[@trtmrt2203]

​@@icu17siberiawhy do you mention China? We discuss the Western imperialism right now. I don't want any of them to pollute our environment.

[@anjafark]

You think peacful deals with neighbours is "imperialistic"? Or maybe your problem is that you are not content with your current elected government? And how is that the responsibility of other countries?

[@anjafark]

​@@trtmrt2203 Peaceful Deals with neighbours are not "imperialism".

[@AlejandroPikoulasPlata]

This will make Serbia gain money and EU less dependent from Chinese lithium. Win-win solution.

[@Pacificocean-z4o]

Proof that EU is not a friend of serbian people.

[@Thor.Jorgensen]

What does the European Union have to do with any of this? The decision was made by Serbian president Vučić, was it not? Or did the EU secretly make an EU army and secretly invade Serbia while no one was looking?

[@zoki.to974]

you needed another proof to conclude that? when a corporations were a friend to the people?

[@zlatanzakic]

@@zoki.to974 Correct. It's corporations, they're nobody's friends.

[@zlatanzakic]

@@Pacificocean-z4o It's not the EU's fault that Vučić decided to sell out the whole country just to remain in power for the rest of his life.

[@MrDRDB]

Neither is the Serbian president but who cares right?

[@vladas45]

Shame on you Europe!

[@tigersnake590]

No shame on vucic dog

[@del6695]

Say that to your chetnik government

[@brankel]

@@del6695матер ти хебем!

[@mladennikolic996]

Marš sa drine BRE!

[@NIKO-qi2yy]

Kratko i jasno. Pridruzujem se komentaru. RioTinto mars iz Srbije.

[@sandrajakovljevic3321]

Uh sto su vam protesti!!!🤢🤢🤢

[@mladennikolic996]

@@sandrajakovljevic3321Govnarka klasična

[@LindoYqueLoco]

Moze to i na kulturan nacin.….ne moramo da pokazemo najgore balkanske manire zar ne?

[@DobaZlatno]

@@LindoYqueLoco Misliš da ih bombardujemo osiromašenim uranijumom i vičemo "izvolite gospodo" ? Čime su zaslužili da budemo fini ?

[@bisel2323]

My God, the double standards is so shameless

[@hoca90]

In Serbia, average vechile is 17 years old, so there is no way that these vechiles will be driving here. They will be try to ruin ecologicaly Serbia so EU members could drive 'cleaner' vechiles. Also, Serbia will have very little economical benefits from this, only 3% of reported profit made by Rio Tinto.

[@throwinturtles]

So you care about the environment for lithium mining but not when it comes to all the oil being used in the 17 year old cars? 😂

[@goldiego2291]

​@@throwinturtlesyes, because lithium mining devastates the land and water permanently

[@Nick-exZ]

@@throwinturtles Regular people don't have the money to buy the newest Tesla... I don't know what kind of privileged background you have, but not everybody has the earnings of a business manager in California... People are trying to stop the things they can actually affect.

[@danilomilankovic8991]

@@throwinturtles Of course. Why should we exchange one pollution for another, even worse pollution, so that the multinational companies take the profit, and so that the rich countries of Europe, which care about the ecology and the human rights of the little man, export their pollution away from them?

[@hoca90]

@@throwinturtles so tell me please, when you are such a smart guy, how they produce that electric energy? How many % they getting it from burning coal or other fossil fuels?

[@draganapavlovic-fc4wx]

This must not happen in Serbia! People have to stop this madness of the government finally!

[@userxyz64]

What exactly is mad about a country using it's own resources?

[@ГорданаТодоровић-ч3ш]

​@@userxyz64truje se zemlja, voda, vazduh, ljudi umiru od raka, tamo gde su rudnici u Srbiji

[@userxyz64]

@@ГорданаТодоровић-ч3ш Sorry, I don't understand that.

[@userxyz64]

​@@ГорданаТодоровић-ч3шthen sst mining standards and ensure mining companies stick to them! This is under Serbia's control!

[@Im-ser-Y]

@@userxyz64 If you don't understand it's not your place give opinions about choice of Serbian people. There will not be digging in Serbia I hope you understand now

[@steph1610]

We dont want this in Serbia...

[@Jack-e5t]

Boohoo

[@user-wo8Iw9km4w]

@@steph1610 i wouldn't want this either

[@JH24821]

Then confront your government about it.

[@steph1610]

@@JH24821yes, but 40 percent of people do not want to go to the polls and want something to change...

[@JH24821]

@@steph1610 I'm kind of surprised your government actually signed an agreement with Germany. I thought Serbia would have been more likely to do that with Russia or China.

[@robertwombat1155]

Rio Tinto is not a EU owned company. So what kind of guaranties will the EU give a country that is not part of the EU.???

[@lazarzivanic86]

It is a joke

[@zabababa9969]

They will guarantee it if they recieve subsidies from profit that Rio Tinto make in form of contracts, about 20-25% for kickstaring an approval from "the greenest EU country". If land like Germany can guarantee it, they can sell this bs. Which won't pass or we will have civil war because Vučić will bring out tanks and army on streets just to stay in power.

[@olgaradulovic7684]

Exactly this. Serbia is not in the EU either, so how do EU laws apply here? It's all a sham.

[@emel3925]

As an American living in Serbia, this is so heartbreaking to watch. There is EXTREMELY strong public opposition to this, yet it’s being pushed through regardless. There is no trust that this will be done responsibly, and after watching this whole story unfold, I think the Serbian people are right to be against this. I’ve really fallen in love with the natural landscape in Serbia, and it’s already shocking seeing how much environmental damage mining has done in Eastern Serbia. It’s really common here for people to have family gardens and grow their own food….pollution to the groundwater will ruin these beautiful traditions. I really hope this doesn’t move forward 💔

[@Greensanctuary-c4w]

Thank you❤

[@MiloradStojkovic-gc4wk]

Hvala...

[@olgaradulovic7684]

thank you. Keep talking about this. Raise awareness. Talk to your friends and family about what's being done.

[@emel3925]

@@olgaradulovic7684 of course ❤️ and I’ll see all of you at the protests 💪

[@Immigrant80]

Answer is NO, it won't happen. Vucic is a autocrat who rules with EU support, nothing that he signs have any value!

[@marcop.1701]

What has value? Just what you decide?

[@lazarje97]

That man is not a representative of mine. He is going to be arrested soon.​@@marcop.1701

[@HQmusic9]

Autocrat with highest support in his country in democratic elections? Just bcs you don't like or agree with someone that doesn't make them autocrats or dlctators.

[@lazarje97]

@@marcop.1701 that man is mentally disturbed or digitally operated. The election was framed and has no validity.

[@ProjectExMachina]

​@@HQmusic9 there is nothing democratic about democracy in Serbia. It has been systematically destroyed for 12 years

[@MilošMilošević-w7v]

They will not mine here in Serbia.

[@TheJopa93]

So Serbia is not even a part od EU but will provide energy for EU economy?

[@Greensanctuary-c4w]

Just like Congo..

[@jadu30]

EU double standard at its finest. If this same deal made in Africa or Asia, they will condemn it. 😂

[@dansevern8856]

What are you talking about? 😂

[@userxyz64]

Exactly, what are you talking about?

[@Kartraceone]

​He is talking about colonisation of EU rim theritory enhanced by corrupt politicians

[@userxyz64]

@@jadu30 what is it about this deal that the EU would condemn if it was made in aAfrica/Asia?

[@minnuss]

@@userxyz64 Because the final product or extracted minerals would not be exported to the EU. This is what he was meant to...

[@milicamatic2969]

РУДНИКА НЕЋЕ БИТИ...

[@srdjanmarkovic4934]

Pa makar i krv pala, a izgleda će morati

[@markym5002]

You must have read "Power of affirmation" by Suzanne Sonntag. It's helped me a lot too!

[@LeeLee-ct2vv]

Daj boze! Svi na ulice!

[@anjafark]

​@@LeeLee-ct2vvWhy so pathetic? Is the democratic concept so alien to you? 🤔

[@scientifically5812]

@@anjafark Demokratski koncept? Nema demokratskog koncepta kada ti neko napadne dom, truje ti zemlju, vodu i vazduh. Sloboda ili smrt!!! Smrt litijumu i onima koji bi da ga kopaju!!!!!

[@ivanlazic4764]

Shame!!!!! As some Africans countries refuse to be colony of France, EU is acting fast and finding new colony much closer, and easier for blackmail, bribe and manipulate!!!!! As a Serbian I feel a shame!!!!

[@userxyz64]

Why would you be ashamed?

[@FilipPetrovic999]

@@userxyz64 for our government being collaborators that would ruin their own country for their personal interest?

[@KeeBo88]

Bukvalno! Dolazimo do trenutka kad ce nas biti zaista sramota da kazemo da smo iz Srbije. Vucic je toliko ponizio i ukaljao Srbiju da je to neverovatno. Hajde sto je sve prodao i izdao, najurio mlade iz zemlje, sad jos unistava prirodu zauvek...

[@031provincija4]

@@userxyz64 If you have to ask that....nobody in Serbia wants mines.Ask population of that region what they want.Its a fertile land that can earn 5 times more with agroculture instead of lithium per year.Facts.This deal will purely go to pockets of mafia around Vucic.After all he is mafia boss in Serbia.

[@anjafark]

​@@031provincija4 Then deal with your problems and don't blame and insult other countries for what you think are shortcommings of your own government.

[@zeljkotodor]

This is just an experiment for EU. In Serbia they will “train” their standards. EU mining standards for lithium do not exist! For Serbia there is a simple question, ecology vs oncology…

[@randomracki9453]

The green deal is so ungreen

[@lukalazarevic9450]

Green in "green deal" refers to the colour of dollar bills...

[@mojjt]

The green is new RED

[@CMNT]

This is what EU does.

[@x-man4966]

EU hypocrites, they publicly support the only dictatorial kleptocratic regime in the world, in Europe, established by complete and obvious theft in the elections and give it legitimacy only so that their elites can enrich themselves even more with mineral wealth from that territory, the European Union and democracy, good joke!

[@TurinStark5]

And why did Vučic agree to it? Surely Serbians should be upset with him as he could have said no..

[@Yugoslav1918]

@@TurinStark5we are angry 😡

[@userxyz64]

@@Yugoslav1918 why?

[@userxyz64]

@@CMNT which is what exactly, in your opinion?

[@MilosPakevic]

In summary, the EU has high environmental standards and will be using clean technology. However, Serbia does not have the same standards, so the EU will be mining lithium there. Additionally, the Serbian government is pro-lithium and is willing to sacrifice the cleanest part of its land, which is rich in clean water. This is sad and disheartening to me.

[@ColoniaMurder20]

Serbian is part of EU region? start digging your own lithium if you want clean energy.. and stop digging in other continent for your clean energy.

[@icu17siberia]

EU has low environmental standards and is alway willing to export pollution and worker hazards. thats why EV's from china are so popular.

[@malenaharrison6616]

Serbian government Is pro money

[@verastefanovich2973]

​@@ColoniaMurder20 Well said!

[@Kosac07]

the country is already destroying its clean resources, or what is left, with no waste management, air pollution from 20+ years old cars, almost no recycling awarness and people literally throwing garbage everywhere... this will finally provide some badly needed funds for all the environmental projects and the new Hungary-Serbia (or Bulgaria) "mini" nuclear power plant which costs billions.

[@petarpopovic3306]

Why is mr. Scholz underlying that "environmantal standards will be SIGNIFICANTLY supported"? What is his mandate to give out such promisses, is he involved with the excavating company, is he in some kind of supervisory board or agency? What is his power to control the support of environmental standards by a non-EU company in a non-EU country? Thank you mr scholz, we don't believe in your promisses, feel free to dig in Germany.

[@icephoenix5466]

It's easy. When giving out contracts standards have to be followed if they don't, they won't get contracts. And export without Eu countries isn't possible.

[@afrosrb7828]

Because this is A CONDITION THAT SERBIA HAS SET! Without it, the project won't be realised. And all the phases will be fully transparent to the public

[@garden.]

@@icephoenix5466 If the EU wants cheap batteries and remains competitive in the auto industry, it will have to forget about the standards in lithium mines in Serbia. That is the only reason for mining in Serbia and not in the EU.

[@jobrock1079]

@@afrosrb7828 "The Upper Rhine Valley in Germany's southwest is thought to be home to one of the largest lithium reserves in Europe."

[@jobrock1079]

@@afrosrb7828 Serbia has a lying, deceitful puppet government. No one should trust it.

[@neonex2046]

Is the EU sacrificing Serbia? Yes it is. Some things never change, what was historically called a colony is now called a sacrifice zone.

[@aleksandramihovska]

Germany has 10 times more lithium than Serbia

[@bulthaosen1169]

This is what europe does. And Europeans lecture to others claiming moral superiority.

[@userxyz64]

Exactly what does Europe do?

[@boris035..4]

@@userxyz64 Slavery is the first thing that comes to my mind, and what about you bot?!?!?!What do you think about that?!?!?

[@userxyz64]

@@boris035..4 where is the slavery in this deal?

[@userxyz64]

@@bulthaosen1169 by the way, are you from the US?.

[@MorningNapalm]

What does Europe do? The Serbian government is in charge of saying yes or no. The important thing is if this results in pollution or not, surely we can agree on that. Fear of the unknown is strong here.

[@user-ok7xs7md3e]

We in Serbia are well aware of situations when Germany guarantees.

[@ivanabramovic7031]

Litijum se nece kopati u Srbiji!!!

[@srdjanmarkovic4934]

Po cenu krvi alo mora

[@aleksandarj.8369]

Za ovo vredi umreti i mora se stopirati

[@marinkofilip1383]

sigurno budu tebe pitali....

[@ivanabramovic7031]

@@marinkofilip1383 hahahahah ne mora da pita ali ce me cuti 😀 kužis? IvanAbramović1389

[@malenaharrison6616]

A ko ce da povede I podigne uspavani narod?.Veca briga im je gde ce na more

[@petarpopovic3306]

Why isn't EU digging for lithium inside EU with those high standards they say they can promise? Also, why aren't they imposing such high standards on lithium they are sourcing from China - the gentleman at the end of the video acknowledged that conditions in the current lithium mines are probably worse than they will be in Serbia? So let's see EU control the conditions there and bring them up to EU standards, and then we might believe they are capable of enforcing high standards in Serbia.

[@TheGabbaKeks]

The EU does have lithium mining projects within its borders.

[@icu17siberia]

I couldn't agree more. Seems hypocritical to me.

[@ZoC777]

Nobody wants this in any of ex-yugoslavia countries .Greetings to brave Serbians from Montenegro dont allow this to your country .Zivjeli!!!!

[@mushishi9684]

This is going to be a disaster!

[@MssAKI1992]

it will not... because it will not happen even if it leads to violent removal from power

[@dimitrijevicveljko]

Political and martial probably. But mining simply won't be.

[@delagano6205]

No one asked people for his.. Our country is against this..

[@milosh996]

Unfortunately, there were elections and people sold their votes for some job security and 3000 RSD. So....

[@andrejparunovic]

You do not represent us. Our elected leaders do

[@narednikmajka2403]

The people were asked. Don't lie. Serbia is NOT against building the mine. Serbs overwhelmingly voted for a party that clearly wants mine to be opened. Serbs were asked and they said they want mine to be opened. You personally might be against the mine but majority of your countrymen are for the mine.

[@delagano6205]

@@narednikmajka2403 paste link of one preelection video where vucic&co said we will open lithium mine..

[@delagano6205]

@@narednikmajka2403 paste link of one preelection video where vucic&co said that they wil open the lithium mine..

[@nebojsaprodanovic4746]

Gestapo has to be STOPPED!!!!

[@alexandrabogdanovic3748]

Gestapo nije i nikad nece biti u Srbiji. Razvoj je potreban i to ce biti najveci projekat Srbije sa UE. SVI EKSPERTI CE BITI UKLJUCENI I RADICE SE O OGROMNOM PROJEKTU ZA BUDUCNOST .

[@ShadowStrikerTheLoneWolf]

​@@alexandrabogdanovic3748zdravo zdravo, čiji li si bot pitam se, Rio Tintov ili Vučkov?

[@NewM.BoyM.]

​@@alexandrabogdanovic3748Budućnost???O čemu ti razmišljaš?

[@boris035..4]

@@alexandrabogdanovic3748 Botina odgovara :O Ovo nisam skoro video :D

[@Thor.Jorgensen]

​@@alexandrabogdanovic3748 Aleksandar Vučić je odluku doneo bez vaše saglasnosti, a krivite Evropsku uniju koja nema veze sa tim? Vučić je prodao deo Srbije jednoj nemačkoj privatnoj kompaniji, ovo nije bila Evropska unija.

[@lidija5903]

Serbian people are against EU. Leave us alone

[@markym5002]

You're speaking for a lot of people there. I'd ask if yo've been elected, but elections are science fiction so I won't.

[@031provincija4]

@@markym5002 Who cares?They are elected to do as majority wants ,and majority dont want lithium mines and EU membership.

[@linnyschlamm3310]

Many Germans too.

[@BranislavB-hx9zy]

How many millions Serbs now live in the Western world EU and NATO countries, these Serbs send billions of Euros and USD that you in Serbia live on. Serbia without the West is zero, in deep poverty! What has Serbia got from Putin, only credits you have to pay interest on! Serbia is not a friend of the EU, most serbs 75% loves Putin you can google it! If Serbia is against Lithium extraction for environmental reasons, why does Serbia import Lithium products from other countries? False double standards from Serbia as usual! Serbia agrees to EU companies risking their capital in Serbia to open hundreds of thousands of new jobs in Serbia, Serbia receives billions of Euros in financial aid from taxpayers in the EU. Serbian consumers are happy to use technology that contains rare minerals and metals, but double moralists in Serbia will not risk their own capital, risk their tax money and will not contribute to extracting and providing the EU market with rare minerals and metals that are in products Serbs use daily! In addition, Serbia is Putin's Trojan horse in Europe, undermining the EU politically!

[@davidboskovic6581]

@@markym5002the people were asked many time. check the results.

[@mitchzec9007]

Vucic is corrupt 😡

[@Feuoh]

Your president is happily selling you to Germany and hence EU. They must have paid him off like they did Zelensky in Ukraine.

[@argavenharge9704]

This guy Is ordinary liar...Serbia doesent has " biggest " reserves of lithium .Biggest are in : Germany,Spain,France,Portugal,etc.Other thing: nobody has experience with mining such kind of lithium minerals like it Is in Serbia.And Rio Tinto never tried to do anything with lithium.This " project" will polute main source of clean water for Belgrade,rich agriculture soul etc.Main question: why EU Is not doing it in own countries?

[@markym5002]

Asking this question may have mobilising potential, but is set up t fail. The EU is indeed exploiting its own resources. The point is that the Serbian site is harder to exploit in an environmentally friendly way, and that we don't have the governance framework to do so anyway.

[@igorfilipovic6531]

Yes they do with support of dictator Vučić, thank you dw

[@DejanAleksic-f3q]

In every country there will always be 100 non intellectuals like this guy sadly. Mr know it all.

[@ChatNick]

Germany got highest quantity of lithium. But, they wanna save their enviroment. 😡

[@milosstevanovic1377]

EU is not group of equal countries. Its farm for top 5 countries.

[@rwksasc]

What are the shared values Western politicians often talk about? These include: colonialism, and not shitting in own backyard.

[@neamnjo]

I hear there are even larger lithium reserves in Germany. So one should wonder, why Germany thinks it is more effective to mine it in Serbia and then ship it to Germany... if there is no ecologic issue, what is it then?

[@bildsteinnela8280]

In 100 years Germany atack Serbie 3 times 😢 is this number 4?

[@boki647]

This will be the last time.

[@narednikmajka2403]

@@boki647 Because there won't be any Serbs left.

[@Melissa-hy3ny]

Good point.

[@anjafark]

@@bildsteinnela8280 What a joke. You severely overestimate the importance of Serbia to Germany.

[@bildsteinnela8280]

@@anjafark of course Not, Bundeskanzler der Bundesrepublick Deutschland, Amtsinhaber, Olaf Scholz, Visit Srbija just last week.. Why?

[@verawalking]

DW presenter surprised me completely. I didn't expect good questions from DW. He will be labeled the right extremist soon.

[@natashaj3788]

Me neither

[@Jasmina-c3j]

Agree, the DW presenter had very relevant and direct questions

[@Melissa-hy3ny]

Yes, he had great questions. Turn those questions into statements and that's all you need to know.

[@natalijacakic3169]

Rio Tinto distroyed 50 000 years old sacred place in caves belonging to indigenous people of Australia.

[@BranislavB-hx9zy]

For which they paid reparations, and your point was?

[@jasmina1m]

​@@BranislavB-hx9zyReparation is still not the same as the 50 000 year old site!?

[@natalijacakic3169]

​​@@BranislavB-hx9zythere's no point to answer you. BUT, never the less, 50 000 years old site is a world herritage, and not " 50 000 $" or mere number. It seems you don't understand what natural and cultural herritage is. Some are anaware of the priorities and values of life, health, families..they know death, extermination, eugenics..

[@vanpet1993]

​@@BranislavB-hx9zy So, your argument is that they are fine because everything can be bought with money? 😂 Great way of thinking! 😂

[@narednikmajka2403]

@@BranislavB-hx9zy What good does money to a dying man? What good does money to science when scientific finds are destroyed?

[@PetarPetrovic-qw9zj]

Opet preko ledja Srba ali Srbija nije u EU, kako idiotski

[@drnda2007]

niti ce biti

[@del6695]

Da ste u Eu nebitno bilo kopanja jer Rio tinto ne smije na teritorij eu pa su vam ga lepo spakovali

[@Feddark]

Don't they see that lithium batteries are not green energy?

[@Greensanctuary-c4w]

It is a green energy for those who will stay after the globalism .

[@Feddark]

@@Greensanctuary-c4w especially when l-ion catches fire 😱

[@LeeLee-ct2vv]

Germany should dig their own lithium, they have much much more....but noooo, think about it

[@namzzal]

Kudos to the host for asking all the right questions, but he is asking them to the wrong person, as Mr. Andrei Covatariu is obviously lobbying for the lithium mine. Just look at how he weasles out every single time. Rio Tinto has an appalling track record, including causing a civil war in Papua New Guinea, but all Mr. Covatariu has to say about it is "it was subject to some controversies in the past". Wars, controversies, to-may-to, to-mah-to.

[@userxyz64]

In that case, it is up to the Serbian government to prevent Rio T from making a controversy in Serbia by setting the mining standards and ensuring that RT adheres to them.

[@namzzal]

@@userxyz64 let's be serious here. Why do you think the EU and Rio Tinto chose a country with a corrupt clientelist government for this environmental disaster in the making?

[@userxyz64]

@@namzzal the EU cannot chose where natural resources occur. It is up to the government of the country that has these natural resources to ensure they are extracted with minimal environmental impact, by setting mining standards and ensuring that the mining companies stick to those standards. Also, this IS NOT ENEVITABLY an environmental disaster in the making.

[@namzzal]

@@userxyz64 I hope you are AI; if you're not, that would be very sad.

[@userxyz64]

@@namzzal be sad!

[@predragvasic5063]

EU MAFIA..

[@dansevern8856]

It takes 2 to sign a contract. Do you also call Vucic mafia ?

[@gordanabujagic2762]

​@@dansevern8856он је велеиздајник.

[@coffeeislife5462]

If EU is mafia, Serbia leadership is corrupt. Cause EU only offers money which they willingly take. By the way, the question isn't if the lithium gets mined. The question is who's support and market Serbia wants to enter. And they, in my opinion, smartly decided to let EU take the lead over Russia or China. First of all, Serbia wants to enter EU block. So more leverage and connection is always welcome. Second, EU is a neighbor thus infrastructure is there already which allows higher profit. Third, China and Russia give nothing about environment even in their own countries.

[@filiplazic9970]

​@@coffeeislife5462we also said no to Russia and china eu bot you just want to use your puppet to steal resources and poison land

[@srdjanmarkovic4934]

​@@coffeeislife5462 No Srbia does not wanna enter EU block. We already in Europe. Someone lied to you buddy. Majority of Srbs does not want nothing with EU.

[@Npcharlie888]

When energy expert frequently uses “strong” words like should, would and could, then you know it won’t fly 😂

[@MsAbrakadabra2011]

Exactly!

[@saphiregin]

This must stop!!

[@userxyz64]

Why?

[@coffeeislife5462]

@@userxyz64 Cause a Russian bot on tik tok made them aware of the excessive environmental damages that might possibly occur.

[@userxyz64]

@@coffeeislife5462" Might possibly occur" - if you let it. There is no reason why the Serbian government cannot prevent that by setting appropriate mining standards and ensuring the mining companies stick to those standards.

[@Ms777Lena]

​​@@userxyz64or just banning the mining? Wouldn't that be the best protection. Lithium is hazardous in its production and after it's used.

[@saphiregin]

@@userxyz64 Why don't they exploit their own German lithium? They have greater reserves than Serbia?

[@filips7158]

You can sign all the papers you want. This will never pass.

[@milospantelic5037]

What means guarantes?How?Whit what?How you will repair eco damage if happen?Szolz will give us pieace of clean land in Germany?

[@markym5002]

Actually, yes!

[@gordiestevan1662]

Mine lithium in Germany Olaf. Leave Serbia alone. This is a very risky move for Vucic.

[@mihajlovic1389]

Цркли да бога да!!!

[@Benjigsaw1934]

Bolje da vi crknete

[@saman3473]

Wir müssen mit der Doppelmoral aufhören und bei uns in Deutschland Lithium fördern. Solche Deals werden uns später zum Problem werden!

[@duskokuzovic6187]

The majority of the population of Serbia is AGAINST the exploitation of lithium. This is not an agreement on lithium but a deliberate provoking of conflict between the citizens (absolute majority) and the regime (less than 14% support). The regime in Serbia survives solely on the violent and indecent support of the US, UK and German ambassadors. This treaty opened not a mine but a new hotbed of conflict in Europe. The violence of the regime and foreign embassies will not pass without conflict with citizens!

[@crnisamuraj]

LOL, true face of EU showing up.... Hopefully Serbs will not stay blind on this one...

[@voodoovrac]

To all who have any doubts about Rio Tinto, you should watch what they did in Papua New Guinea and everywhere in the world where they put their finger on.

[@aleksandraanicic4980]

What a shame , please protest and stop this madness ,

[@suziukanovic42]

This is an absolute travesty it must not happen. This is the region my father and his ancestors are from i spent many summers swimming in that river growing up. If this is allowed to happen many people will suffer immensely. Leave our land alone enough is emough! This is truly heartbreaking.😢💔

[@kingjames5177]

"You Shall Not Pass !!!" Gandalf, curently in Serbia

[@goranklemcic4343]

germany has more lithium reserves than serbia many times over. think about that

[@Ms777Lena]

Who told you that? I'm really interested to hear, because as far as I know, they are still researching where it could be and don't know yet?

[@markoristic2600]

​@@Ms777Lena serbia has 1/3 of the german reserves, its easy to look up, just google germany lithium reserves

[@revilohtinamssor2842]

Ne vjerujte Olafu ni kada darove nosi...😂

[@Simeon3]

When people realize that almost 90% of mining machines run on diesel engines, leading to inevitable pollution, it becomes clear that mining is not sustainable in any way. Anyone with even an ounce of common sense would not allow mining to take place. Rio Tinto has caused extensive damage globally, so they will never be permitted to mine in Serbia. People are in charge.

[@uhtredragnarsson8961]

Above all ,,president vučić,,not have mandat to sign this document about dig of litium..

[@markym5002]

Smesta na kurs engleskog.

[@uhtredragnarsson8961]

@@markym5002 pisano na brzinu,...inače možda sam trebao koju psovku...bolje bi stajao komentar..

[@machinesPawn]

​@@markym5002more da se.teras lektore. Fokus je nesto drugo, ne kurcovanje o gramatici. Razumece svako ko iole zna engleski

[@miloszivkovic6118]

What a Lie and exuse!!! so they have its own lithium, but they want to secure Serbias lithium from China and Russia, OK , then you start to dig first??? when?? what an average journalism...

[@sandracanak5151]

It doesn't matter Germany, Russia, China....we the people won't allow the mining....period.

[@milosmaric1837]

Honestly I didn't know that real journalists still exist

[@jovanastankovic7848]

He nailed it !

[@kwektans]

This guy can ask questions 😂😂😂

[@SUBASHKUMAR-wz8zx]

Ask questions very well 😀

[@djsanja]

this is one good journalism :D

[@ta77ki77]

Thank you, DW, for almost realistically presented problem. I didn't see anything similar in German media. Please, people, help us to save our country, our nature. It's not only ours in Serbia, it belongs to all of us. You're welcome to see this beauty. People in EU, don't be supportive to devastation of not only one country, but whole region. Nature doesn't have borders. People live here!

[@SrdjanBasaric-w2s]

Why does the EU care about British interests when they left the EU? Something here stinks to high heaven.

[@userxyz64]

What has British interests to do with this?

[@SrdjanBasaric-w2s]

@@userxyz64 Rio Tinto is a British-Australian company.

[@radoslavdjurica1063]

"Positive" such as there would be "higher standards" of exploitation in Serbia then in China means so little considering NO ONE in EU has been producing lithium within EU. If that does not tell you instinctively how polluting the process is, I do not know what would. No question about the mining itself in principle, any mining is polluting and there is only so much that could be done to limit pollution and everyone knows that. That is why there are limits to mining in terms of "which" and "how much" which obviously apply to the EU states. And that is why lithium is not mined AT ALL in EU as the people in power in the EU know very well they must protect the interests of the electorate in terms of clean water, clean air, clean soil and so on, or they will face a mass revolt and lose power in a very short time. Those are facts, draw your own conclusions. "Pozitiva" tipa da ce biti "visi standardi" eksploatacije u Srbiji nego u Kini znaci jako malo ako se uzme u obzir NIKO u EZ ne proizvodi litijum u zemljama EZ. Ako Vam to instiktivno ne govori koliko je zagadjujuca eksploatacija litijuma, e onda ne znam sta ce. Nije ovdje prica o rudarenju uopste u smislu da je svako rudarenje stetno po okolinu i da se realno moze uraditi samo toliko koliko se moze da se zastiti okolina i to svi znaju. Bas zbog toga postoje regulacije u EZ u smislu "sta" i "koliko" se moze rudno eksploatisati. Upravo zbog toga se litijum UOPSTE ne eksploatise u zemljama EZ i svi ljudi na vlasti u zemljama EZ znaju jako dobro da moraju zastiti interese ljudi u smislu ciste vode, cistog vazduha, ciste zemlje i slicno inace ce se suociti sa masovnim revoltom i brzim gubitkom vlasti. To su sve cinjenice, sami donosite zakljucke.

[@VladaRadivojevic]

What they don’t want to tell is that they have even more lithium in Germany but they don’t want to dig it because they know how bed it is

[@2020montero]

Thank you for doing this video you make our voice heard

[@Me_myself_and_i874]

Prave nas budalama prvo nasi pa ako treba i oni! Necu deca da mi zive jos u vecem zagadjenju i onako se podavismo! Mars u eu tamo placajte 4000e po radniku(plate+taxe) pa tamo sprovodite svoje norme zastite ali kome to treba nisu nas djaba sje....

[@filipmladenovic5854]

We, Serbians, are not on board with Rio Tinto and this deal the goverment made. The rest of the world watching this need to know the truth...

[@ivanjeremic]

There will be no mining of lithium in Serbia.

[@Sasha_Miladinovic]

Let them mine it in Germany. They have their own lithium there.

[@Miomir86]

This is same like 1941, we sign the agreement...

[@LeighH2323]

The most revealing thing in all of this is how Germany has the largest lithium reserves in Europe but will not mine their own reserves. Just tells you all you need to know about this entire thing.

[@barshoon]

DW news, thanks for the professional approach to this subject.

[@seacloud9024]

No standard will be used

[@SRNikoSR]

Taking about european standards and regulations which are halting exploitations in eu and then saying in the very same sentence that they will be held up for exploitations in Serbia doesn't really fit.

[@nikollax3707]

Germany has its own lithium reserves, why do they need Serbian lithium? Because he doesn't want to pollute his own country, but someone else's.

[@ivanpetrusic5733]

That "expert" at the end is talking how lithium is important for the clean energy for the EU, but it doesn't matter that Serbs will suffer and probably not earn anything from it. We all know Vučić and Rio Tinto will be the only one to get the money.

[@stevicakurcubic116]

This guy didnt answer why Germany dont mining their litium but that eyes are always on Serbia’s. EU double standards. Neocolonism

[@AploudkoAploudovic]

I'm from Serbia, living in the EU because. One of the many reasons I moved is the destruction of Nature, because laws are not being upheld. And now this? Germany and the EU is really really hypocritical about everything... It's a sad day

[@mrfxr1695]

Now, Germany wants a favour from Serbia, on huge cost to Serbian landscape, environment and people. It is a rubbish deal. Germany has lithium, but they are still "exploring" few options. Why Germany doesn't let Rio Tinto to mine lithium in Germany? That should be first question from Serbian government

[@ivanbozanic9799]

EU hypocrites!

[@zlatanninic23]

1100 tons of concentrated sulfuric acid per day whose waste goes into drinking water

[@lubabosnjak6892]

How clean is the "clean" technology really?

[@rose-marievanduyse4905]

Keep Serbia in sovereignity

[@JH24821]

You're not making sense. Serbia is agreeing to this decision.

[@cte4dota]

@@JH24821 NO. As always West put huge presure and make problems if Serbia does not comply its blackmail! They only want Serbian resources!

[@Vlajko26]

​@@JH24821 No it does not. Only bought politicians.

[@cinoeye]

@@JH24821he is alluding to something else…

[@jobrock1079]

@@JH24821 Not the Serbian people, only the treacherous government which betrays the people.

[@dusndjuric]

There is no point listening to this interview with an energy expert. Not a single question has he answered directly, he could talk for hours with saying absolutely nothing. The point: EU wants lithium and they are going to have it, might is right as usual. Democracy is Zukunftsmusik for EU.

[@thomasswift3563]

the eu and standards - the ultimate oxymoron

[@nikolanikolic6625]

As someone who is not involved into any political parties existing, but as a person with common sense i must say that even though Rio Tinto, germany and the EU wants Serbia to give the rights on extracting raw materials at the cost of local wildlife and overall biome changing to drastic heights that will be measured in irrevocably damaging the environment, alligned with locals and the Serbian population rightfully opposing to this decision is justified. If the company or foreign governments want something, they should be 1:1 with it in return. Just thinking about it how exploitation works, how double standards are applied and pushed forward in the narrative as well as untold unethical practices of extortion and/or aggressive behaviour towards someone or their loved ones is something i am highly against. As a host, having a guest who insists, demands and/or pushes towards ruining your home is something that should not be tolerated.

[@miloradvujicic1282]

New batteries don't need lithium at all.