Thousands block roads across Serbia to protest new allegedly ‘environmentally unfriendly’ laws News
© WikiMedia (Bojan Cvetanović)
Thousands block roads across Serbia to protest new allegedly ‘environmentally unfriendly’ laws

Thousands have blocked roads across Serbia to protest against two newly enacted laws that environmentalists argue will let foreign companies exploit local resources.

The Serbian government has offered mineral resource projects to several companies including the China-based Sijin and UK-based Rio Tinto, which environmentalists are concerned will pollute land and water in the country. The protests form a part of long-standing public opposition against various new projects such as the Anglo-Australian lithium mine in western Serbia and many Chinese-run facilities in the country that have allegedly neglected environmental and labor safeguards.

One of the approved bills allows for private property to be taken within five days with compensation, if such a taking is deemed to be in the national interest. Ironically, another of the bills in question was designed to make it harder to protest against polluting projects.

Serbia has the unfortunate reputation of being some of Europe’s worst polluted nations, with critics laying much of the blame on corruption and lax regulatory enforcement. This is the second Saturday in a row people have gathered in the streets to protest the government’s decision to lower the threshold for expropriation of private property.

While Serbia’s Interior Ministry warned that the blockades were illegal, President Aleksandar Vucic stated that there would be no action against the protesters from law enforcement “as long as they do not endanger the lives and property of people and institutions.” Vucic also added that he disagreed with the changes to the expropriation law as passed and pledged to seek amendment to the same, although it is unclear which provisions of the law he disagreed with and what amendments he seeks.

During a visit to a planned mining site in the village of Gornje Nedeljice, Vucic stated that he wanted to hear all of the citizenry’s concerns and and pledged to ask Rio Tinto to protect public health. For its part, Rio Tinto pledged to respect the laws of Serbia and rejected accusations that its project will endanger the environment.

The deadline for Vucic’s signature on the bills is December 10.

 

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