The first section of this Act gives it the official name, "Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act," and outlines the main topics it will cover, such as sanctions, economic and democratic initiatives, cybersecurity, and youth leadership in the Western Balkans.

Congress has identified critical issues and opportunities within the Western Balkans, emphasizing the importance of promoting stable economic growth and democratic progress, reducing reliance on foreign fossil fuels, and addressing challenges like corruption and disinformation. They recognize the need for collaboration with various U.S. agencies to support cybersecurity and economic development efforts, and highlight the significance of initiatives aimed at fostering democratic resilience in the region.

The United States Congress expresses that the country should increase trade and investment with the Western Balkans, enhance support for their democratic and economic reforms, and encourage their integration into organizations like the European Union and NATO. It also highlights the importance of maintaining security, promoting stability, and collaborating with allies to combat disinformation and cyber threats in the region.

In this Act, "appropriate congressional committees" refers to specific Senate and House of Representatives committees related to foreign relations and appropriations, and "Western Balkans" identifies a group of countries in Southeast Europe, specifically Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Additionally, a "Western Balkan country" is defined as any of those listed countries.

The section mandates that sanctions imposed by specific Executive Orders on individuals involved in destabilizing activities in the Western Balkans will remain in place, with the possibility for the President to lift these sanctions if the person stops the sanctioned activity and gives assurances against future violations.

The section outlines the procedures for Congress to review and approve or disapprove the President's actions related to sanctions on the Western Balkans. It requires the President to submit a report detailing proposed actions, and Congress has a set period to review and either approve or disapprove these actions through joint resolutions, with specific guidelines on how these resolutions are handled in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The bill outlines initiatives to support democratic and economic development in the Western Balkans region by combating corruption, boosting regional trade, and enhancing economic competitiveness. It includes establishing a five-year strategy for economic growth, supporting regional infrastructure projects, promoting the involvement of the private sector, and setting up a regional office in the Western Balkans for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to facilitate these efforts.

Congress believes that building university partnerships between the United States and the Western Balkans can further U.S. foreign policy and benefit underserved communities through cultural and academic exchanges. To support this, the legislation allows funding for initiatives like improving education policies and providing training to marginalized groups, and authorizes funding for these activities for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

Congress expresses that the Peace Corps should restart its programs in the Western Balkans, where it had previously paused activities, and within 180 days, the Peace Corps Director must submit a report detailing opportunities and plans for expanding these programs in the region.

The Balkans Youth Leadership Initiative is a proposed program aimed at promoting educational and professional development for young leaders in the Western Balkans. It includes goals such as building business and IT skills, supporting leadership and innovation, promoting good governance, and increasing economic ties with the U.S., along with offering fellowships and establishing a leadership center to counter disinformation and enhance cultural engagement.

The section discusses how the United States aims to enhance cybersecurity and resilience in the Western Balkans. It calls for reports on digital ecosystems and outlines various actions, including strengthening ICT infrastructure, countering disinformation, and sharing cyber threat information with these countries.

Congress expresses its support for an agreement aimed at normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia, encouraging both countries to progress on its implementation, while stipulating that U.S. initiatives depend on successful progress. Further, Congress recommends advancing bilateral ties and finalizing a comprehensive agreement based on mutual recognition.

Sections 5 and 6 of this Act will stop being effective 10 years after the law is passed.

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Congress recognizes the importance of the Western Balkans' stability and prosperity for Europe and notes several challenges, including economic issues, corruption, cyber threats, reliance on Russian energy, and China's influence. They emphasize the role of U.S. agencies in supporting the region, highlight the need for electoral integrity in Serbia, and stress the significance of democratic values for strong international partnerships.

The section outlines Congress's belief that the U.S. should advance trade, support regional integration, enhance energy diversification, and ensure democratic governance in the Western Balkans while promoting EU and NATO integration for eligible countries, countering destabilizing influences, and encouraging democratic values and respect for human rights.

The section provides definitions for terms used in the Act, specifying that "appropriate congressional committees" include certain committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It defines "ICT" as information and communication technology and describes the "Western Balkans" as a region that includes seven specific countries in Europe. A "Western Balkans country" refers to any of those countries.

The section sets rules for sanctions related to the Western Balkans, stating that existing sanctions must continue but can be ended or waived by the President for specific reasons, like national security. It makes exceptions for humanitarian aid, international obligations, law enforcement, and intelligence activities, and allows goods to be imported without sanctions, with the entire section expiring 8 years after the law starts.

The section of the bill focuses on promoting democratic and economic development in the Western Balkans through anti-corruption efforts, cyber resilience, and regional trade initiatives. It outlines plans for technical assistance, promoting media independence, supporting regional trade and infrastructure projects, and increasing U.S. trade and investment in the region to foster political stability and economic growth.

Congress expresses the view that creating partnerships between U.S. universities and those in the Western Balkans can help achieve U.S. foreign policy goals by sharing knowledge and culture. The President can assist these partnerships to promote research, educational reforms, and exchanges, focusing especially on support for vulnerable communities.

The section states that Congress believes the Peace Corps is important for promoting peace and friendships between the United States and the Western Balkans. It also requires the Peace Corps Director to send a report to Congress about possible expansion in the Western Balkans within 180 days of the law being enacted.

The Young Balkan Leaders Initiative encourages people from the Western Balkans to take part in exchange programs with the United States to enhance leadership and development skills. It aims to boost civic engagement, economic growth, and build networking opportunities by offering fellowships, training, and establishing a leadership center that promotes cross-cultural engagement and counters misinformation.

Congress believes it's important for the United States to help improve cybersecurity in Western Balkans countries. A year after the bill is passed, a report is required to evaluate current efforts and suggest improvements in supporting these countries' cyber resilience, including cooperation between the U.S. and these nations, and additional support for NATO Allies like Albania and Croatia.

The section outlines Congress's view that the agreement made between Kosovo and Serbia in February 2023, facilitated by the European Union, is an important step toward normalizing relations. It encourages both countries to make progress on this agreement's implementation and suggests that the United States could increase its engagement with them, including through strategic dialogue and boosting trade. Additionally, the U.S. policy discourages using ethnic-based border changes and supports democratic practices in the Western Balkans to prevent past ethnic conflicts from reoccurring.

The text outlines a requirement for the Secretary of State, in coordination with other federal departments, to deliver biennial reports to Congress about Russian and Chinese efforts to influence the Western Balkans negatively. These reports should assess objectives, activities, and impacts of such operations, list entities involved, evaluate NATO's response, and suggest U.S. strategies to counter these influences, while remaining mostly unclassified.