Germany’s Scholz sets up meeting in Serbia to finalize lithium deal

By Hans von der Burchard, Sejla Ahmatovic, Antonia Zimmermann | 07/18/2024 06:29 AM EDT

The Jadar mine, near the city of Loznica in western Serbia, holds some of Europe’s largest reserves of lithium. It could produce 58,000 metric tons of lithium per year.

BERLIN — After years in the diplomatic doghouse, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is being catapulted back into the political limelight thanks to the European Union’s — and particularly Germany’s — voracious appetite for the raw materials needed to build electric vehicles.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to travel to Belgrade on Friday for a surprise visit to attend the signing of a cooperation agreement between the EU and Serbia on importing minerals, including lithium, that are critical for the EU’s digital and green transition, three people with knowledge of the preparations — who requested anonymity since they were not allowed to speak publicly — told POLITICO.

A government spokesperson later confirmed the visit.

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Vučić had previously been largely isolated among European leaders due to his controversial flirtations with Russia and China, tensions with Kosovo and accusations of election fraud.

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