On July 19, President Aleksandar Vucic together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU energy chief Maros Sefcovic signed a deal on access to raw materials mined in Serbia. In the same month, Rio Tinto's licence to extract lithium in the Jadar Valley in the west of Serbia was restored.

This sparked massive protests around Serbia. At the beginning of August, tens of thousands rallied in Belgrade against lithium extraction by Rio Tinto. Protesters claim that mining could cause land and water pollution.

The protest on August 10 ended with the blockage of two train stations. Serbian officials said the protests were politically motivated and aimed at bringing down the president and the government.

Protests continue in September with thousands rallying streets in Belgrade.

In April 2025, the National Convention on the European Union in Serbia, along with academics and community members, urge European officials not to declare Jadar as a EU strategic project. Doing so could erode support for Serbia's integration into the EU.