The EU and the Republic of Serbia have signed an agreement launching a strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials, battery value chains and EVs.
The partnership aims to support the development of new local industries and jobs along the electric vehicle value chain. It builds on a Stabilization and Association Agreement that came into force in September 2013 and is in line with EU’s New Growth plan for the Western Balkans, advancing Serbia’s integration within the EU’s single market.
The agreement aims to facilitate close cooperation between Serbia and the EU to cooperate on research and innovation and develop a pipeline of projects focused on the EV industrial ecosystem. They will share knowledge and technologies related to sustainable exploration, extraction, processing and recycling of secondary raw materials, including the application of increased due diligence and traceability for the battery value chain.
Invest EU, the Western Balkans Investment Framework and a Single Project Pipeline in Serbia, as well as the European Raw Materials Alliance and European Battery Alliance will be used to support investment projects. Serbian organizations will participate in European Battery and upcoming Raw Materials Academies, potentially contributing dedicated programs and internships.
“Following the signature of the MoU, the EU and the Republic of Serbia will jointly develop within six months a roadmap with concrete actions to put the strategic partnership into practice,” the European Commission stated.
Source: European Commission
