Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are central to the EU’s green, digital, and defence transitions but remain in short supply. To reduce dependencies, the European Commission launched the Critical Raw Materials Act in 2024, bringing the mineral-rich Western Balkans into sharper focus. The EU’s partnership with Serbia on lithium mining in the Jadar Valley sparked strong criticism from civil society, raising concerns about double standards, environmental risks, and weak public participation. Similar tensions are emerging across the region, where mining projects often intersect with fragile institutions and limited transparency.

This study compares Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia to examine how political, institutional, and societal factors shape mining outcomes. It explores whether the EU accession process strengthens environmental standards and regulatory convergence or instead reinforces existing governance challenges. By situating mining within the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Strategy, the study highlights the broader geopolitical and economic stakes, as well as why similar projects trigger varying levels of public resistance and social conflict across the Western Balkans.