Berlin, December 10, 2024
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Freiberg. Together, they visited the Saxon Mining Authority and learned about sustainable lithium mining.
Transcript of the Press Conference – translated by ChatGPT
The raw material lithium, which is essential for batteries, is set to be mined in Saxony in the future. The German federal government is committed to ensuring that high sustainability standards are upheld in the extraction of resources like lithium. At the invitation of the Chancellor, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić was briefed on sustainable lithium mining at the Saxon Mining Authority.
The Saxon Mining Authority in Freiberg implements the Federal Mining Act, which involves approving mining company operational plans and supervising operations. Ensuring resource security is a key goal of the German federal government and the EU Commission. Both parties are committed to upholding high sustainability standards in resource extraction. In July, the EU and Serbia reached an agreement on lithium mining in Serbia’s Jadar Valley.
Read the press statements here:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz:
Good day to everyone! I am delighted to be here in Freiberg today with Serbian President Vučić.
Few cities in Germany are as closely tied to mining history as Freiberg, the “Silver City.” With over 800 years of history, the city is deeply connected to the mining industry. More than 250 years ago, the Mining Academy was established here, one of the oldest institutions for mining engineering.
This tradition is the reason for our visit to Saxony today. President Vučić and I have exchanged views on sustainable lithium mining here. Lithium, as you know, is a critical element for e-mobility and is a key component of batteries. Just this morning, I was at Ford in Cologne, learning about electric vehicle production. At that century-old site, only electric vehicles are now being manufactured. This underscores the importance of lithium for the European automotive industry and for our collective prosperity in Europe. For the transition to e-mobility to succeed, there must be sufficient lithium available for our industry. The availability of this resource is directly linked to the prosperity of our countries.
Our position as the federal government is clear: we need lithium and other critical raw materials, both through reliable, diversified supply chains and by promoting domestic mining. Within the EU, we have adopted the Critical Raw Materials Act to secure the supply of essential materials.
Today, at the Saxon Mining Authority in Freiberg, we learned how lithium can be extracted as sustainably as possible, minimizing environmental impact and protecting nature. Sustainability is a priority not only in Germany but also in Serbia, where a similar lithium project is being planned. The EU is keen to participate in the exploration of the large-scale project in Serbia’s Jadar Valley. As the federal government, we view this endeavor positively, as we do with lithium mining in Germany, including projects along the Upper Rhine Graben using different technologies. The demand for this resource will be immense, making it essential to pursue multiple projects across Europe. These projects are not competitors but rather mutually reinforcing initiatives.
It is, of course, crucial that stringent environmental standards are applied everywhere. This is why today’s exchange is so important. Public acceptance of mining projects depends on ensuring they do not negatively impact the environment. Thus, the high standards of environmental protection and sustainability we discussed extensively today – and previously – are paramount.
We aim to collaborate sustainably and share knowledge to learn from each other. Our discussions today were very specific about how we can expand this cooperation.
I want to emphasize how impressed I was by the Mining Authority, the Mining Academy, the scientists, civil servants, and the concrete corporate project being advanced here. There is immense knowledge, expertise, and confidence in the professionals involved, which is crucial.
Our collaboration extends to other topics, particularly the accession process of Western Balkan states to the European Union. There are many considerations, and it is encouraging to see Serbia and President Vučić actively working to advance this process. We are eager to support these efforts, addressing issues such as Europe’s economic framework, rule of law, and media freedoms.
Good neighborly relations among states in the region are also important to us, especially between Serbia and Kosovo. We continue to strive for normalization of relations and remain committed to facilitating this process. Agreements have been reached, and I hope they will be implemented step by step.
In conclusion, this has been a very significant visit for me, laying the foundation for closer collaboration. I am grateful for the expertise and tradition in Saxony, which contributes to our European cooperation. Thank you once again, and Glückauf!
President Aleksandar Vučić:
First of all, I want to thank Chancellor Scholz for the warm hospitality, especially given the effort it took for him to travel to Freiberg, Saxony, in the far southeast of Germany.
As President, I learned a great deal today about the history of mining in Germany and Europe. Serbia collaborated with Saxony on mining during the Middle Ages and greatly benefited from Saxony’s wealth of experience.
It was important for me to learn from German expertise today, especially regarding how Germany can support us in protecting the environment and ensuring normal living conditions for communities near potential mining sites. We also discussed potential impacts and ways to manage these responsibly.
I am particularly pleased that German partners invited representatives from NGOs, opposition parties, and independent media. It was encouraging to see Mr. Petar Filipović from Gornje Nedeljice here, someone who previously protested against this project. Today, he had the opportunity to pose questions directly to the Chancellor and experts and received appropriate responses.
For us, the exchange of knowledge and expertise, collaboration between our mining faculty and Freiberg’s Mining Academy, and training opportunities for our students are all vital. Serbia is rich in ores, minerals, and rare earths.
We were particularly impressed by how public hearings and dialogues with local communities are organized here, especially in agricultural regions like Zinnwald near Freiberg. We hope to adopt similar practices in Serbia, with German support, to address any public concerns transparently.
There is no doubt that such projects could bring significant economic benefits to Serbia. We can manage most aspects of the value chain, but we still need expertise in certain areas, which we sought here in Saxony today.
Germany is Serbia’s largest trade partner, with over 80,000 Serbians employed by German companies. This robust partnership continues to drive our economic growth, potentially making us one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies.
We have also discussed issues of rule of law, media freedom, and our dialogue with Kosovo. I hope we can overcome challenges and maintain stability and peace in the region.
Thank you once again for your hospitality and support, Chancellor Scholz. It is an honor to receive your help in addressing these challenges for Serbia.
Thank you very much!
Source – Federal Government of Germany (in German)