By Tatyana Kekic in Belgrade The European Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to a strategic partnership with Serbia on raw materials, despite rising tensions with Serbia’s populist government, EuroNews reported on August 20. Tensions have been fuelled by Serbia’s ties with Russia and accusations that Western powers are behind recent protests against a planned lithium mine, which culminated in a massive demonstration in Belgrade on August 10. Last week, Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin visited Moscow for a series of high-level meetings. In response, the EU urged Serbia to r…