site.btaBern Convention Bureau to Visit Serbia in 2026 over Mining Pollution Complaints

The Bern Convention Bureau accepted the invitation of the international organization Earth Thrive and committed to visit Serbia in 2026 to establish the actual situation on the ground regarding the complaints filed in connection with the planned and ongoing mining activities in the Bosilegrad area and on the territory of Homolje. The visit is the result of years of complaints against the Serbian government for endangering nature and biodiversity in Bosilegrad, Homolje, and Jadar, Earth Thrive reported.

Special attention has been paid to the Bosilegrad case due to suspicions of environmental pollution caused by the Podvirovi Karamanica mine in the municipality of Bosilegrad.

The members of the Bureau of the Berne Convention were invited to Strasbourg, where the Convention's headquarters are located, to examine the complaints and conduct a field inspection of the situation in Serbia. During this year's presentation of the case to the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention, the Serbian government accepted the Bureau's recommendation to carry out this visit.

Earth Thrive representative Zoe Lujic presented detailed data on the consequences of mining activities, emphasizing that it had been proposed that the delegation be accompanied by an independent scientific expert on ecosystems and environmental pollution from King's College. The expert had already conducted field studies in Bosilegrad, and it was on the basis of his analyses that the presence of heavy metals in the environment linked to the activities of the Podvirovi Karamanica mine was proven.

At the 45th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention, which took place from December 9 to 12 at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, key facts were presented on the threat to nature in Serbia as a result of planned and existing mining projects, with Bosilegrad being highlighted as one of the most vulnerable areas. The European Commission representative to the Bern Convention warned the Serbian government that if the country truly aspires to European Union membership, it must strictly comply with European and international legislation, as well as its commitments in the field of environmental protection, including its obligations under the Bern Convention.

Environmental activists from Bosilegrad's Eko Krajiste organization said that the people of the municipality of Bosilegrad can breathe a sigh of relief now that such illegal mining activities have been stopped, since the danger to human life from heavy metal pollution was severe.