{"id":6910,"date":"2024-10-31T13:20:32","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T13:20:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/polekol.org\/2024\/10\/31\/brussels-at-the-crossroads-of-extractivism-and-human-rights\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T14:04:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T14:04:34","slug":"brussels-at-the-crossroads-of-extractivism-and-human-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/polekol.org\/en\/2024\/10\/31\/brussels-at-the-crossroads-of-extractivism-and-human-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Brussels at the Crossroads of Extractivism and Human Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

English below<\/em><\/p>\n\n

From October 14 to 17, Polekol was part of the delegation of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina visiting Brussels, organized by the European Environment Bureau and the Heinrich Bell Foundation. The series of meetings and events aimed to engage European officials on pressing environmental and human rights issues facing the Western Balkans and strengthen ties between Balkan activists and European environmental advocates. This visit focused on raising awareness of the significant environmental, social and economic risks associated with the proposed lithium mining projects in Serbia and BiH, which, despite strong popular opposition, continue to receive local government support and EU support internationally. <\/h2>\n\n

Concerns about critical minerals projects are heightened by weak institutional oversight and the prioritization of private interests over public welfare. The delegation pointed out that these initiatives do not even fulfill the promises of economic prosperity, but contribute to an atmosphere of repression, intimidation and hostility towards environmental activists and critical scientists. The delegation’s assertion that the silence of the EU in the face of violations of human rights, especially civil rights, contributed to the growing distrust among Serbian citizens regarding the EU’s commitment to its own proclaimed democratic values \u200b\u200band principles. Delegates addressed topics relevant to the EU’s green agenda and expressed concern that large-scale lithium mining projects, although promoted as part of the green transition, could instead deepen environmental degradation, destabilize local communities and undermine democratic decision-making processes. <\/p>\n\n

The main event of the visit was “The Balkans at the Crossroads: Lithium Mining, Human Rights and the Struggle for Environmental Justice”<\/strong> at the European Parliament. This gathering brought together activists, academics and representatives of civil society who discussed the environmental and social consequences of lithium mining projects. In the opening speech, Sara Mathieu, who was the host, MEP from the Greens\/EFA group, emphasized the importance of solving human rights violations and environmental degradation within the EU’s green agenda, not as opposition to the EU, but as a critical reflection on its role in supporting controversial projects. <\/p>\n\n

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