Public trust has emerged as the greatest barrier to mining expansion in South-East Europe. In Serbia, large-scale opposition to lithium projects has sparked political debate and social unrest. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, environmental groups routinely block new exploration over concerns about water quality and forest fragmentation. Bulgarian communities challenge mines threatening farmland or tourism zones, while North Macedonia confronts pressure to remediate decades of industrial pollution before approving any new extraction.
This erosion of trust has deep roots. For decades, mining in the region was synonymous with environmental degradation, opaque decision-making, and state-controlled enterprises that often ignored local concerns. Even international companies introducing modern practices inherit a legacy of skepticism created by past industrial and political systems.
Today, this historical distrust intersects with heightened environmental expectations. Citizens are better informed, more organized, and increasingly vocal. Social media accelerates the spread of grievances, meaning that a single tailings failure or contamination event can trigger nationwide protests within hours. Governments understand that mishandling mining projects can quickly translate into political risk.
As a result, mining companies operate in a landscape where public approval is earned gradually but can be lost instantly. In this context, ESG performance is no longer a peripheral requirement—it is the central determinant of project stability, credibility, and long-term success.
