Balkan developments

published on 7/19/24 3:45 PM

Lithium imports from Serbia will help EU reduce dependence on China

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission Vice-President in charge of energy Maroš Šefčovič will visit Belgrade on July 19 to sign an agreement between the EU and Serbia on imports of minerals, including lithium, which are key for the digital and green transition, Serbian edition Danas and BTA reported. In a document published on the EU website, there is a specific part stating that the strategic and political management of the agreement will be led by Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and Maroš Šefčovič, who will maintain regular contact, Danas wrote.

The publication specifies that the German chancellor's visit and the signing of the documents comes days after the Constitutional Court overturned the decision of Serbia's previous government to halt the project to open a lithium mine in Loznica by the Rio Tinto company. The lithium mining project has many opponents in the country and has been the cause of protests more than once.

The Politico web portal points out that as the EU's largest car manufacturer, Germany has a strong interest in securing lithium, particularly in Europe, in order to reduce dependence on China.

Google plans to invest up to USD 2 billion in data center in Romania

The Romanian government and US giant Google have signed a memorandum on cooperation in cloud technology, cybersecurity and other digital services, Digi24 reports. The company plans to build a data center in the country, in which it could invest up to $2 billion. The signing comes in the context of Romania's digital infrastructure development, innovation and research projects.

"We have ambitious public administration reform projects, envisaging the use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, improving operational efficiency, enhancing digital security and promoting innovation in the public sector. We are in the final stage of the modernisation of the tax system to detect abuses and increase collection," Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stressed.

At the talks with the US giant, the government has insisted that the data center will have a regional role, meaning it will rival the one in Poland, where the company decided four years ago to invest up to $2 billion to expand its presence in the cloud computing services segment.

Athens to tax windfall profits from high electricity prices

Greece will impose a one-off tax on windfall profits made by energy producers in August and September and use the proceeds to subsidise household energy bills, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Sky TV. The government in Athens is taking urgent measures against the high price of electricity. The price per megawatt-hour is up to €500 and wholesale prices have increased by 60%. The government spokesman said that a wholesale price cap is also being discussed, reports BNR correspondent in Greece Katya Peeva.

Market analyses show that due to the active export of electricity to Ukraine, where Russia destroyed major power plants, electricity prices have increased in all European countries.

Cypriot citizens will be able to travel to the US without a visa

The Cypriot Parliament has ratified the agreement between Cyprus and the US on cooperation in the use of travel information signed in Washington on 17 June. The document is a condition for Cyprus' participation in the US visa waiver programme, Mediapool reports. A total of 22 MPs voted in favour, one against and nine abstained. The US will provide Cyprus free of charge with the necessary system/platform software to collect and analyse passenger data.

If all agreed deadlines are met, Cyprus' inclusion in the Visa Waiver Programme is expected around the beginning of 2025.

Currently, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus are the only countries in the EU whose citizens need a visa when travelling to the US.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova

Photos: Google.com, BGNES, European Commission, Pixabay