International Protest against lithium mining in Serbia Protest in Brussels Against Unfair Debate on Lithium Mining by Rio Tinto
On Wednesday, 5 February, the European Parliament will host a debate on the pros and cons of lithium mining by Rio Tinto in Serbia. However, this event, linked to the promotion of a documentary on the subject, raises serious concerns about fairness and transparency. The Serbian Diaspora Group "Palac Gore" calls upon international environmental advocates, human rights defenders, and members of the diaspora from Serbia and the Balkans, as well as concerned citizens across Europe to participate in a peaceful demonstration opposing both the biased representation in this documentary and the broader issue of lithium extraction at the expense of communities, ecosystems and democracy.
The documentary in question has faced strong criticism from experts for selectively presenting narratives and misrepresenting the voices of those opposed to the Jadar lithium mining project. In the trailer leading up to the documentary, crucial perspectives from activists, local communities, and independent scholars have been deliberately excluded, while at the same time represented in the context of a possible link with Russian propaganda. The mining corporation was then presented as a victim of a campaign of disinformation. This will result in a discussion heavily biased in favour of corporate interests in the trailer announcing the film. This distorts the reality of lithium mining’s environmental and social consequences and instrumentalises the prestigious KU Leuven research centre SIM2.
The consequences of all of this will be the silencing of dissent and the legitimization of harmful exploitation practices. As a reminder, Serbia continues to demonstrate weak environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, failing to implement necessary reforms to protect its environment and communities. The country’s progress toward EU accession remains stalled, with Chapter 27 on environmental and climate action at a standstill due to ongoing concerns about regulatory enforcement and corporate influence over policymaking. We reject this attempt to manipulate public perception and call for a truly transparent and fair debate—one that includes the voices of local communities and those fighting to protect Serbia’s environment.
We invite all supporters of democracy, environmental protection, and freedom of expression to join us in an international protest demanding accountability and genuine dialogue.
Speakers will include:
Carola Rackete (MEP from Germany),
Catarina Soares Martins (MEP from Portual),
Tor Jonas Sjöstedt (MEP from Sweden),
Zlatko Kokanović (the local community "Ne damo Jadar", Serbia)
and Aleksandar Matković (Institute of Economic Sciences in Belgrade, Serbia).
Contacts:
1. +32484966956 – Dragan Avramović from the Serbian Diaspora Group "Palac Gore" (ORGANIZERS)
2. +381642930614 – Zlatko Kokanović from the local community group “Ne damo Jadar” (SPEAKER AT
PROTEST)
3. +381641222626 – dr Aleksandar Matković from the Institute of Economic Sciences in Belgrade
(SPEAKER AT PROTEST AND PARTICIPANT AT THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE)