“A bill to encourage increased trade and investment between the United States and the countries in the Western Balkans, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section designates the Act as the “Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act” and sets forth the table of contents.
This section states congressional findings concerning the Western Balkans, including the region's importance to European peace and stability; economic challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and youth out-migration; the potential of regional initiatives like the Common Regional Market; U.S. interests in promoting trade, anti-corruption efforts, cybersecurity, and reduced reliance on Russian energy; threats from disinformation, cyberattacks, and Chinese influence; and concerns over Serbia's December 17, 2023, elections.
This section states the sense of Congress that the United States should encourage increased trade and investment with the Western Balkans; expand assistance for regional integration, including enterprises owned by and employing women and youth; support EU and NATO accession for eligible countries (specifically Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia); maintain the full EUFOR mandate and strengthen NATO presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina; promote energy diversification away from Russian sources and fossil fuels; foster civil societies, independent media, transparent governance, and free-market economies; combat Russian malign influence; enhance cyber resilience and bilateral security cooperation (including via the Adriatic Charter); coordinate sanctions with allies; uphold the Berlin Process; and prioritize partnerships with countries committed to democracy and human rights.
This section defines key terms for purposes of the Act, including: (1) appropriate congressional committees, meaning the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senate Committee on Appropriations, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and House Committee on Appropriations; (2) ICT, meaning information and communication technology; (3) Western Balkans, meaning the region comprised of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia; and (4) Western Balkans country, meaning any of those countries.
This section codifies sanctions under Executive Order 13219 (as amended by Executive Order 13304) and Executive Order 14033 relating to blocking property of, and suspending entry for, persons who threaten international stabilization efforts in the Western Balkans or contribute to destabilization there. It (1) maintains designations of persons listed under those orders as of enactment and continues related sanction authorities, (2) authorizes the President to terminate sanctions for a person upon certification to congressional committees that the person has not engaged in the sanctioned activity during the prior two years or no longer meets the criteria, (3) authorizes waivers for renewable 180-day periods upon a national security determination and 15-day prior notice to congressional committees, (4) provides exceptions for humanitarian assistance and related transactions, compliance with U.S. international obligations, law enforcement and intelligence activities, and importation of goods, (5) authorizes presidential rulemaking, and (6) sunsets eight years after enactment.
This section directs the Secretary of State to develop an anti-corruption initiative for Western Balkans countries that (1) expands technical assistance for new national anti-corruption strategies, (2) provides training and best practices to law enforcement, judicial institutions, and administrative bodies, (3) strengthens strategies against political corruption in the judiciary, election oversight, and public procurement and bolsters regulatory oversight including cyber defenses, (4) includes the region in the European Democratic Resilience Initiative or successor for anti-corruption funding, and (5) promotes independent media through government engagements and journalist training. This section states the sense of Congress that U.S. investments can enhance economic integration and democratic resilience in the Western Balkans; requires the Secretary of State and USAID Administrator, in coordination with other agencies, to submit a 5-year regional economic development and democratic resilience strategy to congressional committees within 180 days of enactment that complements EU and multilateral efforts, assesses trade barriers and opportunities, builds capacity in sectors such as clean energy and cybersecurity, supports women-owned enterprises and anti-corruption measures, and includes a public diplomacy component; and requires a briefing on strategy development progress within 90 days of enactment. This section authorizes the Secretary of State and USAID Administrator, in coordination with other agencies, to coordinate a regional trade and development initiative for Western Balkans countries and bordering EU members to promote private sector growth (particularly small and medium-sized enterprises and startups led by youth or women), increase intraregional and U.S. exports and investments, and provide related training.
This section expresses the sense of Congress that promoting partnerships between U.S. universities and universities in the Western Balkans—particularly in traditionally underserved communities—advances U.S. foreign policy goals through a whole-of-government approach, provides opportunities for academic and cultural exchanges, and satisfies eligibility criteria under section 105(c)(4) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151c(c)(4)). (As background, section 105 authorizes assistance for basic education activities—i.e., literacy and numeracy improvements, workforce development, early childhood through secondary education, and teacher capacity building—in eligible developing countries.) The section further authorizes the President, acting through the Secretary of State, to provide such assistance to promote these university partnerships, including by (1) supporting research on foreign policy, cyber resilience, and disinformation; (2) aiding partner governments with policy reforms, curricula, data systems, teacher and student training (including English language instruction), and inclusive learning materials; (3) facilitating knowledge exchanges to provide at-risk youth, women, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups with relevant education, training, and employment skills; (4) promoting teaching and research exchanges between higher education institutions; and (5) encouraging alliances and exchanges with like-minded institutions in the Western Balkans and Europe.
This section states the sense of Congress that the Peace Corps—whose mission includes promoting world peace and friendship by helping interested countries meet their needs for trained personnel—provides an invaluable opportunity to connect the people of the United States with the people of the Western Balkans. It further directs the Director of the Peace Corps to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, analyzing current opportunities for Peace Corps expansion in the Western Balkans region.
This section establishes the Young Balkan Leaders Initiative by renaming and expanding the Department of State's existing BOLD leadership program—currently for young leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro—to the entire Western Balkans region, subject to the availability of appropriations. The initiative directs the Secretary of State to promote educational and professional development for young adult leaders through (1) capacity-building in business, information technology, cybersecurity, agriculture, civic engagement, and public administration; (2) professional training and networking in leadership, innovation, elections, human rights, entrepreneurship, good governance, and journalism; (3) collaboration on regional initiatives for good governance, environmental protection, government ethics, and minority inclusion; (4) economic and technical assistance to promote growth and U.S.-Western Balkans business ties; (5) tailoring assistance to U.S. mission objectives; and (6) funding from existing U.S. mission resources. The Secretary shall award fellowships to leaders aged 18 to 35 who demonstrate capabilities in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership; have positively impacted their communities, including through cross-regional and multiethnic cooperation; and represent geographic, gender, political, and cultural diversity. The Secretary shall also use public diplomacy facilities (American Spaces) to establish a flagship public engagement and leadership center to counter disinformation and malign influence, promote cross-cultural engagement, provide training, harmonize American Spaces efforts, and facilitate annual regional networking. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary shall brief appropriate congressional committees on Western Balkans exchange programs, including constraints on International Visitor Leadership Program participation, necessary resources, and a strategy for connecting alumni across Europe and within the region.
This section states the sense of Congress that U.S. support for cybersecurity, cyber resilience, and secure ICT infrastructure in Western Balkans countries strengthens regional defenses against malicious cyber activity by nonstate actors and foreign governments, mitigates risks from insecure networks vulnerable to compromise and online influence operations, and serves U.S. national security interests. The section directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security and heads of other relevant federal agencies, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than one year after enactment, a report that includes (1) an overview of interagency efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and cyber resilience in Western Balkans countries; (2) a review of the information environment in each such country; (3) a review of existing U.S. government cyber and digital initiatives to counter influence operations and safeguard elections and democratic processes, strengthen ICT infrastructure and cybersecurity capacity, support democracy and internet freedom, and build cyber capacity of U.S. allies and partners; (4) an assessment of cyber threat information sharing between the United States and Western Balkans countries; (5) an assessment of options to better support cybersecurity and cyber resilience through changes to current assistance authorities and the advantages or limitations of posting cyber professionals to U.S. diplomatic posts in the region and training Foreign Service Officers; and (6) any additional U.S. support needed for the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of NATO allies Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Croatia.
This section states the sense of Congress that (1) the Agreement on the Path to Normalization of Relations between Kosovo and Serbia, agreed on February 27, 2023, with EU facilitation, is a positive step; (2) both countries should immediately advance the Implementation Annex; (3) upon sufficient progress, the United States should consider bilateral strategic dialogues and initiatives to deepen trade and investment with both; and (4) the United States should support a comprehensive final agreement based on mutual recognition. It further declares it U.S. policy (1) not to advocate land swaps, partition, or border redrawing along ethnic lines in the Western Balkans and (2) to support pluralistic democracies there to prevent ethnic strife.
This section requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, Director of National Intelligence, and other relevant agency heads as appropriate, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees—not later than 180 days after enactment and every two years thereafter—an unclassified report (with a possible classified annex) assessing Russian and Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns in Western Balkans countries aimed at undermining democratic institutions, promoting political instability, and harming U.S. and NATO interests. The report must include (1) assessments of Russia and China's objectives in such operations, including undermining elections, promoting instability, and manipulating information; (2) U.S. agency roles in countering them; (3) lists of supporting networks, entities, and individuals from Russia, China, or cooperators, including their roles in limiting speech or democratic access; (4) tactics, techniques, and procedures used; (5) effects on U.S. military alliances and partnerships; (6) identification of targeted Western Balkans countries; (7) NATO and country capacities to counter such influence; (8) U.S. efforts, including through the Countering Russian Influence Fund and Countering People's Republic of China Malign Influence Fund; (9) anticipated future tactics; and (10) recommended authorities or activities to enhance U.S. counter-capabilities.