Vujovic: Human health, environmental protection to be imperative

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Environmental Protection Irena Vujovic said on Monday human health and environmental protection would be imperative when it comes to the Jadar lithium mining project and announced that more stringent legislation would be passed in the sector.

"We have reiterated several times that we will be uncompromising when it comes to environmental protection. All we have been hearing (from the opposition) is intimidation of the citizens without facts or official documents, for the sake of political gains," Vujovic said during a debate in the parliament.

She noted that lithium was important for e-mobility and enabled green development, one of the objectives of the green agenda.

"We will definitely not consent to anything without compliance with European standards," she said, noting that one of the previous governments had brought Rio Tinto to Serbia and had even amended legislation to facilitate its operations.

Nothing in the country will be done without compliance with all environmental standards, she noted, urging the people not to be influenced by intimidation or form opinions based on assumptions.

"Wait until the study is complete and then we can comment on this topic," Vujovic said in response to criticism from MP Aleksandar Ivanovic from the opposition People's Movement of Serbia.