Serbia-EU Agreement: containing China and Russia’s influence in Belgrade and de-escalating the Balkan conflict

On July 19, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič signed a framework agreement to secure Serbian lithium supplies to the EU.

The agreement follows the Serbian Constitutional Court’s July 11 unblocking of the project to develop Europe’s largest lithium mine by the Australian company Rio Tinto Group.

Such steps by the Serbian government demonstrate Washington’s strategic interest in supporting Serbia’s accession to the European Union.