Scholz: There is an agreement that has been reached and must be implemented

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated today that Germany supports the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo and added that there is an agreement that has been reached and must be implemented.

At a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Freiberg, where they visited the Mining Administration of the German state of Saxony, Scholz emphasized that Berlin supports the EU accession process of the Western Balkans and said that many aspects must be taken into account in this process.

“President Vucic is actively working on this process. We will provide support as much as we can, focusing primarily on reforms in the areas of the rule of law, media freedom, and others. It is important that people in the region maintain good neighborly relations, and this applies especially to Serbia and Kosovo. We are working on supporting both sides. There is an agreement that has been reached and must be implemented,” he stressed.

Scholz conveyed that he discussed with Vucic the sustainable mining of lithium, a mineral important for future mobility.

“We must ensure an adequate supply of lithium. The stance of the German government is clear: we need lithium and other critical raw materials. The EU has adopted a law on critical raw materials to secure these resources. We discussed sustainable lithium extraction while preserving the environment,” he said.

Scholz emphasized that the EU wants to participate in the exploitation of lithium in the Jadar Valley.

“We view this endeavor positively, as well as the one here in the Upper Rhine Basin. The demand for lithium will be high, and it is important to secure sufficient quantities. It is also crucial to adhere to high environmental protection standards. Greater local acceptance is also needed. Residents are concerned about whether mining will negatively impact the environment. That is the reason for our visit to Freiberg. We want to collaborate, share knowledge, and learn from one another. Specifically, we discussed how to expand our cooperation,” he said.

Scholz highlighted that he is impressed by the people of the Mining Administration, the employees, and the company itself, which are working on this and possess great expertise, crucial for gaining public trust. “For me, this is a very important visit, the foundation for good and fruitful cooperation that we will have and must have,” he concluded.