English below

Od 14. do 17. oktobra Polekol je bio deo delegacije Srbije i Bosne i Hercegovine u poseti Briselu, u organizaciji Evropskog biroa za životnu sredinu i Fondacije Hajnrih Bel. Serija sastanaka i događaja imala je za cilj angažovanje evropskih zvaničnika u hitnim pitanjima životne sredine i ljudskih prava sa kojima se suočava Zapadni Balkan i učvršćivanje veza između balkanskih aktivista i evropskih zagovornika životne sredine. Ova poseta se fokusirala na podizanje svesti o značajnim ekološkim, društvenim i ekonomskim rizicima povezanim sa predloženim projektima rudarenja litijuma u ​​Srbiji i BiH, koji, uprkos snažnom protivljenju naroda, i dalje dobijaju podršku vlade na lokalnom nivou i podršku EU na međunarodnom nivou.

Zabrinutost oko projekata za kritične minerale je pojačana slabim institucionalnim nadzorom i davanjem prioriteta privatnim interesima nad javnom dobrobiti. Delegacija je istakla kako ove inicijative ne ispunjavaju čak ni obećanja ekonomskog prosperiteta, već doprinose atmosferi represije, zastrašivanja i neprijateljstva prema ekološkim aktivistima i kritički nastrojenim naučnicima. Hitnosti je doprinela i tvrdnja delegacije da je ćutanje EU pred kršenjem ljudskih prava, a posebno građanskih prava, doprinelo rastućem nepoverenju među građanima Srbije u pogledu posvećenosti EU sopstvenim proklamovanim demokratskim vrednostima i principima. Delegati su se bavili temama relevantnim za zelenu agendu EU i izrazili su zabrinutost da veliki projekti rudarstva litijuma, iako se promovišu kao deo zelene tranzicije, mogu umesto toga produbiti degradaciju životne sredine, destabilizovati lokalne zajednice i pogoršati demokratske procese donošenja odluka. 

Glavni događaj posete bio je „Balkan na raskršću: rudarenje litijuma, ljudska prava i borba za ekološku pravdu“ u Evropskom parlamentu. Ovaj skup okupio je aktiviste, akademike i predstavnike civilnog društva koji su razgovarali o ekološkim i društvenim posledicama projekata rudarenja litijuma. U uvodnom govoru Sara Matju, koja je bila domaćin, evroparlamentarka iz grupe Zeleni/EFA, istakla je važnost rešavanja kršenja ljudskih prava i degradacije životne sredine u okviru zelene agende EU, ne kao protivljenje EU, već kao kritičko razmišljanje o njenoj ulozi u podršci kontroverznim projektima. 

Među govornicima je bila Iva Marković, programska direktorka Polekola i suosnivač inicijative Pravo na vodu. Marković je govorila o nastanku ekološkog pokreta u Srbiji, koji, kako je primetila, nije nastao preko noći, već se razvio kroz godine otpora na probleme poput malih hidroelektrana, zagađenja vazduha, eksploatacije uglja, ilegalnih deponija, destruktivnih energetskih tranzicija, krčenja šuma, itd. Ove konkretne borbe podstakle su snažnu mrežu solidarnosti i saradnje unutar sektora životne sredine u Srbiji. 

Marković je naglasila da ovaj pokret nema intrinzičnu antizapadnu ili antiistočnu orijentaciju i da ne bi trebalo biti mistifikacije njegovog porekla zbog aktivnog otpora projektima rudarstva litijuma koje nekritički podržavaju zvaničnici EU. Strane kompanije iz Kine i Kanade već posluju i zagađuju u istočnim regionima Srbije i podjednako su pod pažnjom i osudom civilnog društva. Ona je pojasnila da protivljenje rudarstvu litijuma nije vođeno globalnim geopolitičkim agendama, već autentičnim ekološkim brigama lokalnih zajednica. Ove zajednice, potencijalno ugrožene rudarenjem litijuma, rekla je ona, već oličavaju održivu zelenu tranziciju, oslanjajući se na plodno zemljište, čistu vodu i lokalno proizvedenu hranu. Ova povezanost sa njihovom životnom sredinom i direktna zabrinutost za njihov život prirodno ih je pozicionirala kao lidere u borbi protiv zagađivača. 

Naša predstavnica je objasnila i da se represija protiv ekoloških aktivista dešava u kontekstu nenasilnih protesta u Srbiji, istakavši da su skupovi protekli mirno i organizovano bez nasilja i destrukcije. Marković je osudila eskalaciju tabloidnih provladinih medija koji targetiraju aktiviste, uz prikazivanje aktivista kao „eko-terorista“, objašnjavajući da se građani okreću uličnim protestima i blokadama puteva kao krajnjoj nuždi, tek nakon što iscrpe sve institucionalne kanale – kao što su peticije, javne konsultacije i razni apeli — koji se rutinski ignorišu. Smanjenje prostora za (institucionalni) rad organizacija civilnog društva sigurno nije recept za održivost ili stabilnost regiona. 

Osvrćući se na dramatične događaje ovog leta, Marković je istakla da su aktivisti bili suočeni sa velikom represijom, uključujući 41 slučaj hapšenja i targetiranje 39 udruženja građana kao „stranih agenata” i „eko-terorista” u medijima. Zanimljivo je da je EU, uprkos višedecenijskom promovisanju angažmana i uključivanja javnosti u donošenju odluka, upadljivo ostala nema pred nedavnim udarima na pojedince koji ostvaruju svoje pravo da se angažuju i praktikuju svoja demokratska građanska prava. Marković je sugerisala da bi ovo, uz nedvosmislenu podršku kontroverznom rudarskom projektu, moglo dodatno da naškodi ugledu EU u Srbiji i šire. 

Ostali govornici su bili Diego Marin iz European Environmental Buro, Vladimir Topić i Zoran Poljašević iz Bosne i Hercegovine, Ivan Bjelić, Jevđenije Julijan Dimitrijević, Aleksandar Matković i Jovan Rajić iz Srbije, uz moderaciju Johanne Sidov iz berlinske kancelarije HBF-a. Topić i Poljašević su razgovarali o ekološkoj štetnosti koju eksploatacija litijuma i drugih kritičnih sirovina počinje da nanosi bosanskim ekosistemima, dajući živopisnu sliku prijetnji koje projekti predstavljaju izvorima čiste vode i plodnoj zemlji koja je neophodna za život zajednice. Aktivisti su takođe podelili lične izveštaje o pretnjama i zastrašivanju sa kojima su se suočili, čak i o gubitku posla.

Rajić je izneo dokaze o zakonskim prekršajima i represivnim radnjama oko rudarskih projekata objašnjavajući da je rudarski projekat već prekriven velom zakonskih i proceduralnih prekršaja i da nema dokaza da se tako neće i nastaviti. Matković je govorio o svom ličnom iskustvu pretnji smrću nakon objavljivanja tekstova u kojima se kritikuju rudarski projekti. On je nastavio sa širim geopolitičkim implikacijama, kao što je uloga Kine, koja dovodi u pitanje strateške ciljeve EU za razdvajanje i diverzifikaciju resursa. I Rajić i Matković apelovali su na EU da preispita svoju podršku takvim poduhvatima, tvrdeći da oni podstiču nasilje i narušavaju demokratske temelje Srbije. 

Bjelić i Dimitrijević su iz prve ruke svedočili o represiji, provevši 3 dana u zatvoru nakon mirne blokade u avgustu i elaborirali o kriminalizaciji aktivizma u Srbiji. Bjelić je još jednom podvukao dvostruke narative sa vrha države Srbije: jedan za zapadnu javnost, koji prikazuje ekološki pokret kao navodne krajnje desničarske proruske agenture, dok istovremeno za lokalnu javnost optužuje isti pokret da su zapadni plaćenici. Dimitrijević je predstavio nalaze Srpske akademije nauka i umetnosti o projektu Jadar koji je pokazao sveukupne negativne posledice po srpsko društvo. 

Marin je završio događaj pozivom na akciju, pozivajući EU da uskladi svoje politike sa dugoročnim potrebama životne sredine i građana na Zapadnom Balkanu. Njegov apel je podvukao osnovnu poruku delegacije da održivi razvoj mora dati prioritet ljudskom i ekološkom blagostanju u odnosu na kratkoročne ekonomske dobitke privatnih kompanija sa ekstraktivističkim portfeljem, i, konačno, da nekritička podrška projektu Jadar predstavlja reputacijski rizik za EU.

Delegacija je takođe održala brojne pojedinačne sastanke sa različitim zainteresovanim stranama EU i nadamo se da je ostavila značajan trag pokretanjem ove teme, jačanjem dijaloga sa zvaničnicima EU i jačanjem hitnosti ekološke pravde i zagovaranja ljudskih prava na Zapadnom Balkanu. Poseta je istakla složenu, često kontradiktornu dinamiku oko projekata rudarstva litijuma. Postoji hitna ključna potreba da EU podrži istinski pravdenu zelenu tranziciju u regionu usredsređenu na zajednicu, kao i da podrži ljude koji se bore za vrednosti koje i sama promoviše – demokratiju i bezbednu životnu sredinu za sve.

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Brussels at the Crossroads of Extractivism and Human Rights

From 14th to 17th October Polekol was a part of the delegation from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina visiting Brussels, organised by the European Environmental Buro and Heinrich Boell Foundation. The series of meetings and events had the goal of engaging European officials in pressing environmental and human rights issues facing the Western Balkans and fostering stronger ties between Balkan activists and European environmental advocates. This visit focused on raising awareness of the significant environmental, social, and economic risks associated with proposed lithium mining projects in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, despite strong popular opposition, continue to receive governmental support locally and EU support internationally.

Concerns about critical minerals projects are compounded by weak institutional oversight and the prioritisation of private interests over public welfare. The delegation highlighted how these initiatives fall short of fulfilling even the promises of economic prosperity, and contribute instead to an atmosphere of repression, intimidation, and hostility toward environmental activists and scientific critics. Adding to the urgency was the delegation’s assertion that the EU’s silence in the face of human rights and especially civic rights abuses has contributed to a growing mistrust among Serbian citizens regarding the EU’s commitment to its own stated democratic values and principles. Delegates engaged with topics relevant to the EU’s green agenda and expressed concerns that large-scale lithium mining projects, while touted as part of a green transition, may instead perpetuate environmental degradation, destabilise local communities and deteriorate the democratic decision-making processes.

The flagship event of the visit was “Balkan at the Crossroads: Lithium Mining, Human Rights, and the Fight for Environmental Justice” at the European Parliament. This gathering brought together activists, academics, and civil society representatives who discussed the environmental and social costs of lithium mining projects. The opening speech by Sara Matthieu, hosting MEP from the Greens/EFA group, underscored the importance of addressing human rights abuses and environmental degradation within the EU’s green agenda, not as an opposition to the EU, but as a critical reflection on its role in supporting controversial projects.

Among the speakers was Iva Marković, program director of Polekol and co-founder of the Right to Water initiative. Marković spoke to the evolution of the environmental movement in Serbia, which, she noted, has not emerged overnight but rather developed through years of resistance to threats such as small hydropower projects, air pollution, coal mining, illegal waste dumps, destructive energy transitions, and deforestation. These grassroots battles have fostered a robust network of solidarity and collaboration within Serbia’s environmental sector.

Marković emphasised that this movement has no intrinsic anti-Western or anti-Eastern orientation, and there should not be mystification of its origins because of actively resisting lithium mining projects uncritically supported by EU officials. Foreign companies from China and Canada already operate and pollute in Serbia’s eastern regions and have been equally scrutinised by civil society. She clarified that the opposition to lithium mining is driven not by global geopolitical agendas but by authentic local communities’ environmental concerns. These communities, potentially endangered by the lithium mining, she said, already embody sustainable green transition, relying on fertile land, clean water, and locally produced food. This connection to their environment and direct concerns about their livelihoods has naturally positioned them as leaders in the fight against polluters.

She also explained that the repression of the environmental activists is happening in the context of non-violent protests in Serbia, underscoring that the gatherings have been peaceful, and organised without violence or destruction. Marković condemned the escalation of tabloid pro-government media targeting of the activists, with portrayals of activists as “eco-terrorists,” explaining that citizens often turn to street protest and roadblocks as a last resort, only after they have exhausted all formal channels—such as petitions, public consultations, and various appeals—that are routinely ignored. The shrinking space for (institutional) work of the CSOs is surely not the recipe for sustainability or stability of the region.

Reflecting on the summer’s dramatic events, Marković highlighted that activists faced intense pressure, including the arrest of 41 individuals and the targeting of 39 citizen groups as “foreign agents” and “eco-terrorists” in the media. Interestingly, the EU, despite decades-long promoting of public engagement in decision-making, has been notably silent in the face of recent crackdowns on individuals exercising their right to engage and practice their democratic civic rights. Marković suggested that this, together with unequivocal support for the controversial mining project, may further harm the EU reputation in Serbia and beyond.

Other Speakers were Diego Marin from European Environmental Buro, Vladimir Topić and Zoran Poljašević from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivan Bjelić, Jevđenije Julijan Dimitrijević, Aleksandar Matković i Jovan Rajić from Serbia, with the moderation of Johanna Sydow from the Berlin office of HBF. Topić and Poljašević discussed the ecological harm lithium and other critical raw materials mining has begun to inflict on Bosnia’s ecosystems, painting a vivid picture of the projects’ threats to clean water sources and fertile land essential for community livelihoods. Activists also shared personal accounts of the threats and intimidation they faced, even losing their jobs. 

Rajić presented evidence of legal violations and repressive actions surrounding mining projects, explaining that the mining project is already covered by a veil of legal and procedural violations and that there is no evidence that this will not continue. Matković spoke about his personal experience of death threats after publishing articles criticising the mining projects. He continued with the broader geopolitical implications, such as China’s role, which challenges the EU’s strategic objectives for decoupling and diversifying the resources. Both Rajić and Matković appealed to the EU to reconsider its support for such ventures, arguing that they fuel violence and erode Serbia’s democratic foundations. 

Bjelić and Dimitrijević offered a firsthand testimony of the repression, spending 3 days in jail after the peaceful blockade in August and elaborated on the criminalisation of activism in Serbia. Bjelić underlined once again the double narratives from the Serbian heads of state: one being for the Western public, depicting the environmental movement as alleged far-right pro-Russian agencies, while at the same time accusing the same movement of Western mercenaries for the local public. Dimitrijević presented findings of the Serbian Academy of Science and Art about the Jadar project that had shown overall negative consequences for Serbian society. 

Marin closed the event with a call to action, urging the EU to align its policies with the long-term needs of the environment and citizens in the Western Balkans. His appeal reinforced the delegation’s core message that sustainable development must prioritise human and ecological welfare over the short-term economic gains of the private companies with extractivist portfolios, and, finally, that uncritical support to the Jadar project represents a reputational risk for the EU.

The delegation also held numerous individual meetings with different EU stakeholders and hopefully left a significant mark by raising the topic, strengthening dialogue with EU officials and reinforcing the urgency of environmental justice and human rights advocacy in the Western Balkans. The visit underscored the complex, often contradictory dynamics surrounding lithium mining projects. There is an urgent critical need for the EU to support genuine, community-centred green transitions in the region, and to support the people fighting for the very values it is promoting – democracy and a safe environment for all.