I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5274 
To encourage increased trade and investment between the United States 
and the countries in the Western Balkans, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 
Mr. KEATING (for himself, Ms. MALLIOTAKIS, and Mr. GOLDMAN of New 
York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To encourage increased trade and investment between the 
United States and the countries in the Western Balkans, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
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Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 4. Definitions. 
Sec. 5. Codification of sanctions relating to the Western Balkans. 
Sec. 6. Democratic and economic development and prosperity initiatives. 
Sec. 7. Promoting cross-cultural and educational engagement. 
Sec. 8. Peace Corps in the Western Balkans. 
Sec. 9. Young Balkan Leaders Initiative. 
Sec. 10. Supporting cybersecurity and cyber resilience in the Western Balkans. 
Sec. 11. Sense of Congress regarding an interim agreement. 
Sec. 12. Reports on Russian and Chinese malign influence operations and cam-
paigns in the Western Balkans. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Western Balkans countries (the Repub-
lic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic 
of Croatia, the Republic of Kosovo, Montenegro, the 
Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of 
Serbia) form a pluralistic, multi-ethnic region in the 
heart of Europe that is critical to the peace, sta-
bility, and prosperity of that continent. 
(2) Continued peace, stability, and prosperity in 
the Western Balkans is directly tied to the opportu-
nities for democratic and economic advancement 
available to the citizens and residents of those seven 
countries. 
(3) It is in the mutual interest of the United 
States and the seven countries of the Western Bal-
kans to promote stable and sustainable economic 
growth and development in the region. 
(4) The reforms and integration with the Euro-
pean Union pursued by countries in the Western 
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Balkans have led to significant democratic and eco-
nomic progress in the region. 
(5) Despite economic progress, rates of poverty 
and unemployment in the Western Balkans remain 
higher than in neighboring European Union coun-
tries. 
(6) Out-migration, particularly of youth, is af-
fecting demographics in each Western Balkans coun-
try, resulting in population decline in all seven coun-
tries. 
(7) Implementing critical economic and govern-
ance reforms could help enable investment and em-
ployment opportunities in the Western Balkans, es-
pecially for youth, and can provide powerful tools for 
economic development and for encouraging broader 
participation in a political process that increases 
trade and prosperity for all. 
(8) Existing regional economic efforts, such as 
the Common Regional Market, the Berlin Process, 
and the Open Balkan Initiative, could have the po-
tential to improve the economic conditions in the 
Western Balkans, while promoting inclusion and 
transparency. 
(9) The Department of Commerce, through its 
Foreign Commercial Service, plays an important role 
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in promoting and facilitating opportunities for 
United States trade and investment. 
(10) Corruption, including among key political 
leaders, continues to plague the Western Balkans 
and represents one of the greatest impediments to 
further economic and political development in the re-
gion. 
(11) Disinformation campaigns targeting the 
Western Balkans undermine the credibility of its 
democratic institutions, including the integrity of its 
elections. 
(12) Vulnerability to cyberattacks or attacks on 
information and communication technology infra-
structure increases risks to the functioning of gov-
ernment and the delivery of public services. 
(13) United States Cyber Command, the De-
partment of State, and other Federal agencies play 
a critical role in defending the national security in-
terests of the United States, including by deploying 
cyber hunt forward teams at the request of partner 
nations to reinforce their cyber defenses. 
(14) Securing domestic and international cyber 
networks and ICT infrastructure is a national secu-
rity priority for the United States, which is exempli-
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fied by offices and programs across the Federal Gov-
ernment that support cybersecurity. 
(15) Corruption and disinformation proliferate 
in political environments marked by autocratic con-
trol or partisan conflict. 
(16) Dependence on Russian sources of fossil 
fuels and natural gas for the countries of the West-
ern Balkans ties their economies and politics to the 
Russian Federation and inhibits their aspirations for 
European integration. 
(17) Reducing the reliance of the Western Bal-
kans on Russian natural gas supplies and fossil fuels 
is in the national interest of the United States. 
(18) The growing influence of China in the 
Western Balkans could also have a deleterious im-
pact on strategic competition, democracy, and eco-
nomic integration with Europe. 
(19) In March 2022, President Biden launched 
the European Democratic Resilience Initiative to 
bolster democratic resilience, advance anti-corruption 
efforts, and defend human rights in Ukraine and its 
neighbors in response to Russia’s war of aggression. 
(20) The parliamentary and local elections held 
in Serbia on December 17, 2023, and their imme-
diate aftermath are cause for deep concern about the 
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State of Serbia’s democracy, including due to the 
final report of the Organization for Security and Co- 
operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institu-
tions and Human Rights, which— 
(A) found ‘‘unjust conditions’’ for the elec-
tion; 
(B) found ‘‘numerous procedural defi-
ciencies, including inconsistent application of 
safeguards during voting and counting, fre-
quent instances of overcrowding, breaches in se-
crecy of the vote, and numerous instances of 
group voting’’; and 
(C) asserted that ‘‘voting must be re-
peated’’ in certain polling stations. 
(21) The Organization for Security and Co-op-
eration in Europe also noted that Serbian officials 
accused primarily peaceful protestors, opposition 
parties, and civil society of ‘‘attempting to desta-
bilize the government’’, a concerning allegation that 
threatens the safety of important elements of Ser-
bian society. 
(22) Democratic countries whose values are in 
alignment with the United States make for stronger 
and more durable partnerships. 
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