Mining for Influence : The EU's Strategic Framing of Lithium Extraction in Serbia

This thesis critically examines the European Union’s strategic pursuit of lithium ex-traction in Serbia, focusing mainly on the proposed Jadar mine. It analyzes how the EUframes this engagement by applying frame analysis to official agreements, policy doc-uments, and statements from EU leaders. The research identifies a coherent narrativethat blends geopolitical ambitions with normative ideals, emphasizing lithium miningas crucial for the EU’s strategic autonomy and sustainability goals. However, findingsalso reveal omissions in the EU’s framing regarding the recognition of local Serbianopposition and environmental concerns related to lithium extraction. This highlightstensions between the EU’s realist interests and its normative commitments which raisesquestions regarding EU policy coherence, credibility, and the broader implications forSerbia’s path toward EU accession.