On 19 July, Serbian president Aleksander Vučić signed a letter of intent with the Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovic. Slovak was accompanied by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, due to the fact that it is the automotive manufacture in his country that most needs lithium to produce batteries. All politicians were very pleased. Scholz assured that the task would meet the “highest standards” of environmental protection. Šefčović called the agreement a "historic day" and considered it a step towards the EU for Serbia. Vučić said in turn: – For us it will be a turning point and a milestone towards the future. However, not all his people were satisfied. The opposition chanted: "Serbia is not for sale". And according to any polls, as many as 52% of Serbs are against mine formation.
