Lucía Bárcena Project Coordinator

Our people — Staff member

Lucia Barcena joined TNI in March 2019. She is a Spanish-Mexican who has specialized in trade and investment policies and in monitoring and evaluation. She holds a Masters Degree in International Cooperation for Development from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Before joining TNI she worked as the trade campaigner for Ecologistas en Accion in Spain. Also, she has worked as an international consultant for UN agencies including UNFPA , UNICEF and the ECLAC and for NGOs and research institutions.

Latest work

Serbia's lithium gamble Reviving Rio Tinto's mine amidst protests and economic promises
Just Transition

Investment Protection
On 16 July 2024, Serbia restored mining giant Rio Tinto’s licence to extract lithium near the town of Loznica in the Jadar Valley in the west of the country, triggering street protests in the capital Belgrade and other urban centres. The mining licence had previously been revoked in 2022, after thousands of demonstrators had  similarly taken to the streets, arguing that creating a massive lithium mine in the area could cause egregious and permanent damage to the environment, and contaminate the region's water supplies. The question arises, why would the Serbian government risk, once more, the ire of its citizens?

Article by

Lucía Bárcena

Publication date: 4 September 2024
Niobium and the EU Green Dreams or War Machines?
Bilateral Investment Treaties

Just Transition

Climate Crisis
In late 2019, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched the European Green Deal, aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The EU’s Green Deal Industrial Plan seeks to establish a leading green technology industry by securing critical raw materials (CRMs) necessary for green technologies. However, concerns arise that the EU’s green agenda might mask the sourcing of CRMs for carbon-intensive and military purposes. This briefing reveals niobium’s supply chain, primarily serving the automotive, aerospace, and arms industries, questioning whether the Green Deal’s goals are compromised. Are we truly advancing green technology, or inadvertently fuelling traditional industries?
Policy briefing by

Lucía Bárcena

Mads Barbesgaard

Steve Rolf

Julian Germann

Joseph Baines

Sean Kenji Starrs

Alexander Lurz

Philip Steeg

Cristian Trujillo
Publication date: 11 July 2024
EU Parliamentary Elections Trade Policy in the spotlight

Free Trade Agreements

Europeans go to the polls between 6-9 June 2024, to elect a new parliament. The composition of the European Parliament plays a crucial role in shaping policies that impact not only the European Union but also its global partners. 

Blog by

Lucía Bárcena

Publication date: 29 May 2024