SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is a sense of Congress that the United States 
should— 
(1) encourage increased trade and investment 
between the United States and allies and partners in 
the Western Balkans; 
(2) expand United States assistance to regional 
integration efforts in the Western Balkans; 
(3) strengthen and expand regional economic 
integration in the Western Balkans, especially enter-
prises owned by and employing women and youth; 
(4) work with allies and partners committed to 
improving the rule of law, energy resource diver-
sification, democratic and economic reform, and the 
reduction of poverty in the Western Balkans; 
(5) increase United States trade and investment 
with the Western Balkans, particularly in ways that 
support countries’ efforts— 
(A) to decrease dependence on Russian en-
ergy sources and fossil fuels; 
(B) to increase energy diversification, effi-
ciency, and conservation; and 
(C) to facilitate the transition to cleaner 
and more reliable sources of energy, including 
renewables, as appropriate; 
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(6) continue to assist in the development, with-
in the Western Balkans, of— 
(A) strong civil societies; 
(B) public-private partnerships; 
(C) independent media; 
(D) transparent, accountable, citizen-re-
sponsive governance, including equal represen-
tation for women and youth; 
(E) political stability; and 
(F) modern, free-market based economies; 
(7) support the expeditious accession of those 
Western Balkans countries that are not already 
members to the European Union and to the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization (referred to in this sec-
tion as ‘‘NATO’’) for countries that desire and are 
eligible for such membership; 
(8) support— 
(A) maintaining the full European Union 
Force (EUFOR) mandate in Bosnia and 
Herzegovina as being in the national security 
interests of the United States; 
(B) encouraging NATO and the European 
Union to review their mission mandates and 
posture in Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure 
they are playing a proactive role in establishing 
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a safe and secure environment, particularly in 
the realm of defense; 
(C) working within NATO to encourage 
contingency planning for an international mili-
tary force to maintain a safe and secure envi-
ronment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially 
if Russia blocks reauthorization of the mission 
in the United Nations; and 
(D) a strengthened NATO headquarters in 
Sarajevo; 
(9) continue to support the European Union 
membership aspirations of Albania, Bosnia and 
Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Monte-
negro, and Serbia by supporting meeting the bench-
marks required for their accession; 
(10) continue to support the overarching mis-
sion of the Berlin Process and locally-driven initia-
tives that are inclusive of all Western Balkans coun-
tries and remains aligned with the objectives and 
standards laid out by the European Union as re-
quirements for accession to the European Union; 
(11) continue to support the cultural heritage, 
and recognize the languages, of the Western Bal-
kans; 
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(12) coordinate closely with the European 
Union, the United Kingdom, and other allies and 
partners on sanctions designations in Western Bal-
kans countries and work to align efforts as much as 
possible to demonstrate a clear commitment to up-
holding democratic values; 
(13) expand bilateral security cooperation with 
non-NATO member Western Balkans countries, par-
ticularly efforts focused on regional integration and 
cooperation, including through the Adriatic Charter, 
which was launched at Tirana on May 2, 2003; 
(14) increase efforts to combat Russian malign 
influence campaigns and any other destabilizing or 
disruptive activities targeting the Western Balkans 
through engagement with government institutions, 
political stakeholders, journalists, civil society orga-
nizations, and industry leaders; 
(15) develop a series of cyber resilience stand-
ards, consistent with the Enhanced Cyber Defence 
Policy and Readiness Action Plan endorsed at the 
2014 Wales Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization to expand cooperation with partners 
and allies, including in the Western Balkans, on cy-
bersecurity and ICT infrastructure; 
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(16) articulate clearly and unambiguously the 
United States commitment to supporting democratic 
values and respect for international law as the sole 
path forward for the countries of the Western Bal-
kans; and 
(17) prioritize partnerships and programming 
with Western Balkan countries that demonstrate 
commitment toward strengthening their democracies 
and show respect for human rights. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate; 
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives. 
(2) ICT.—The term ‘‘ICT’’ means information 
and communication technology. 
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(3) WESTERN BALKANS.—The term ‘‘Western 
Balkans’’ means the region comprised of the fol-
lowing countries: 
(A) The Republic of Albania. 
(B) Bosnia and Herzegovina. 
(C) The Republic of Croatia. 
(D) The Republic of Kosovo. 
(E) Montenegro. 
(F) The Republic of North Macedonia. 
(G) The Republic of Serbia. 
(4) WESTERN BALKANS COUNTRY.—The term 
‘‘Western Balkans country’’ means any country list-
ed in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of paragraph 
(3). 
SEC. 5. CODIFICATION OF SANCTIONS RELATING TO THE 
WESTERN BALKANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Each person listed or designated 
for the imposition of sanctions under an executive order 
described in subsection (c) as of the date of the enactment 
of this Act shall remain so designated, except as provided 
in subsections (d) and (e). 
(b) CONTINUATION OF SANCTIONS AUTHORITIES.— 
Each authority to impose sanctions provided for under an 
executive order described in subsection (c) shall remain 
in effect. 
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(c) EXECUTIVE ORDERS SPECIFIED.—The executive 
orders specified in this subsection are— 
(1) Executive Order 13219, as amended by Ex-
ecutive Order 13304 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating 
to blocking property of persons who threaten inter-
national stabilization efforts in the Western Bal-
kans); and 
(2) Executive Order 14033 (50 U.S.C. 1701 
note; relating to blocking property and suspending 
entry into the United States of certain persons con-
tributing to the destabilizing situation in the West-
ern Balkans), as in effect on such date of enact-
ment. 
(d) TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS.—The President 
may terminate the application of a sanction described in 
subsection (a) with respect to a person if the President 
certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that 
such person— 
(1) has not engaged in the activity that was the 
basis for such sanctions, if applicable, during the 
two-year period immediately preceding such termi-
nation date; or 
(2) otherwise no longer meets the criteria that 
was the basis for such sanctions. 
(e) WAIVER.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The President may waive 
the application of sanctions under this section for re-
newable periods not to exceed 180 days if the Presi-
dent— 
(A) determines that such a waiver is in the 
national security interests of the United States; 
and 
(B) not less than 15 days before the grant-
ing of the waiver, submits to the appropriate 
congressional committees a notice of and jus-
tification for the waiver. 
(2) FORM.—The waiver described in paragraph 
(1) may be transmitted in classified form. 
(f) EXCEPTIONS.— 
(1) HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE.—Sanctions 
under this Act shall not apply to— 
(A) the conduct or facilitation of a trans-
action for the provision of agricultural commod-
ities, food, medicine, medical devices, humani-
tarian assistance, or for humanitarian purposes; 
or 
(B) transactions that are necessary for, or 
related to, the activities described in subpara-
graph (A). 
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(2) COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL OBLI-
GATIONS
AND
LAW
ENFORCEMENT
ACTIVITIES.— 
Sanctions under this Act shall not apply with respect 
to an alien if admitting or paroling such alien is nec-
essary— 
(A) to comply with United States obliga-
tions under— 
(i) the Agreement between the United 
Nations and the United States of America 
regarding the Headquarters of the United 
Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 
1947, and entered into force November 21, 
1947; 
(ii) the Convention on Consular Rela-
tions, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and 
entered into force March 19, 1967; or 
(iii) any other international agree-
ment; or 
(B) to carry out or assist law enforcement 
activity in the United States. 
(3) EXCEPTION
FOR
INTELLIGENCE
ACTIVI-
TIES.—Sanctions under this Act shall not apply to— 
(A) any activity subject to the reporting 
requirements under title V of the National Se-
curity Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); or 
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(B) any authorized intelligence activities of 
the United States. 
(4) EXCEPTION RELATING TO IMPORTATION OF 
GOODS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The requirement to 
block and prohibit all transactions in all prop-
erty and interests in property under this Act 
shall not include the authority or a requirement 
to impose sanctions on the importation of 
goods. 
(B) DEFINED TERM.—In this paragraph, 
the term ‘‘good’’ means any article, natural or 
manmade substance, material, supply or manu-
factured product, including inspection and test 
equipment, and excluding technical data. 
(g) RULEMAKING.—The President is authorized to 
promulgate such rules and regulations as may be nec-
essary to carry out the provisions of this section (which 
may include regulatory exceptions), including under sec-
tion 205 of the International Emergency Economic Pow-
ers Act (50 U.S.C. 1704). 
(h) SUNSET.—This section shall cease to have force 
or effect beginning on the date that is 8 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 6. DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND 
PROSPERITY INITIATIVES. 
(a) ANTI-CORRUPTION INITIATIVE.—The Secretary 
of State, through ongoing and new programs, shall develop 
an initiative that— 
(1) seeks to expand technical assistance in each 
Western Balkans country, taking into account local 
conditions and contingent on the agreement of the 
host country government to develop new national 
anti-corruption strategies; 
(2) seeks to share best practices with, and pro-
vide training to, civilian law enforcement agencies 
and judicial institutions, and other relevant adminis-
trative bodies, of the Western Balkans countries, to 
improve the efficiency, transparency, and account-
ability of such agencies and institutions; 
(3) strengthens existing national anti-corruption 
strategies— 
(A) to combat political corruption, particu-
larly in the judiciary, independent election over-
sight bodies, and public procurement processes; 
and 
(B) to strengthen regulatory and legislative 
oversight of critical governance areas, such as 
freedom of information and public procurement, 
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including by strengthening cyber defenses and 
ICT infrastructure networks; 
(4) includes the Western Balkans countries in 
the European Democratic Resilience Initiative of the 
Department of State, or any equivalent successor 
initiative, and considers the Western Balkans as a 
recipient of anti-corruption funding for such initia-
tive; and 
(5) seeks to promote the important role of an 
independent media in countering corruption through 
engagements with governments of Western Balkan 
countries and providing training opportunities for 
journalists on investigative reporting. 
(b) PRIORITIZING CYBER RESILIENCE, REGIONAL 
TRADE, AND ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.— 
(1) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that— 
(A) promoting stronger economic, civic, 
and political relationships among Western Bal-
kans countries will enable countries to better 
utilize existing resources and maximize their 
economic security and democratic resilience by 
reinforcing cyber defenses and increasing trade 
in goods and services among other countries in 
the region; and 
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(B) United States investments in and as-
sistance toward creating a more integrated re-
gion ensures political stability and security for 
the region. 
(2) 5-YEAR STRATEGY FOR ECONOMIC DEVEL-
OPMENT AND DEMOCRATIC RESILIENCE IN WESTERN 
BALKANS.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
and the Administrator of the United States Agency 
for International Development, in coordination with 
the heads of other relevant Federal departments and 
agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a regional economic development 
and democratic resilience strategy for the Western 
Balkans that complements the efforts of the Euro-
pean Union, European nations, and other multilat-
eral financing institutions— 
(A) to consider the full set of tools and re-
sources available from the relevant agencies; 
(B) to include efforts to ensure coordina-
tion with multilateral and bilateral partners, 
such as the European Union, the World Bank, 
and other relevant assistance frameworks; 
(C) to include an initial public assessment 
of— 
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(i) economic opportunities for which 
United States businesses, or those of other 
like-minded partner countries, would be 
competitive; 
(ii) 
legal, 
economic, 
governance, 
infrastructural, or other barriers limiting 
United States trade and investment in the 
Western Balkans; 
(iii) the effectiveness of all existing re-
gional cooperation initiatives, such as the 
Open Balkan initiative and the Western 
Balkans Common Regional Market; and 
(iv) ways to increase United States 
trade and investment within the Western 
Balkans; 
(D) to develop human and institutional ca-
pacity and infrastructure across multiple sec-
tors of economies, including clean energy, en-
ergy efficiency, agriculture, small and medium- 
sized enterprise development, health, and cyber-
security; 
(E) to assist with the development and im-
plementation of regional and international trade 
agreements; 
(F) to support women-owned enterprises; 
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(G) to promote government and civil soci-
ety policies and programs that combat corrup-
tion and encourage transparency (including by 
supporting independent media by promoting the 
safety and security of journalists), free and fair 
competition, sound governance, judicial reform, 
environmental stewardship, and business envi-
ronments conducive to sustainable and inclusive 
economic growth; and 
(H) to include a public diplomacy strategy 
that describes the actions that will be taken by 
relevant agencies to increase support for the 
United States relationship by citizens of West-
ern Balkans countries. 
(3) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of State shall provide a briefing to the appropriate 
congressional committees that describes the progress 
made towards developing the strategy required 
under paragraph (2). 
(c) REGIONAL TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT INITIA-
TIVE.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of State 
and the Administrator of the United States Agency 
for International Development, in coordination with 
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the heads of other relevant Federal departments and 
agencies, may coordinate a regional trade and devel-
opment initiative for the region comprised of each 
Western Balkans country and any European Union 
member country that shares a border with a West-
ern Balkans country (referred to in this subsection 
as the ‘‘Western Balkans region’’) in accordance 
with this subsection. 
(2) INITIATIVE ELEMENTS.—The initiative au-
thorized under paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) promote private sector growth and 
competitiveness and increase the capacity of 
businesses, particularly small and medium-sized 
enterprises, in the Western Balkans region; 
(B) aim to increase intraregional exports 
to countries in the Balkans and European 
Union member states; 
(C) aim to increase United States exports 
to, and investments in, countries in the Bal-
kans; 
(D) support startup companies, including 
companies led by youth or women, in the West-
ern Balkans region by— 
(i) providing training in business 
skills and leadership; and 
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(ii) providing opportunities to connect 
to sources of capital; 
(E) encourage and promote inward and 
outward trade and investment through engage-
ment with the Western Balkans diaspora com-
munities in the United States and abroad; 
(F) provide assistance to the governments 
and civil society organizations of Western Bal-
kans countries to develop— 
(i) regulations to ensure fair and ef-
fective investment; and 
(ii) screening tools to identify and 
deter malign investments and other coer-
cive economic practices; 
(G) review existing assistance program-
ming relating to the Western Balkans across 
Federal agencies— 
(i) to eliminate duplication; and 
(ii) to identify areas of potential co-
ordination within the Western Balkans re-
gion; 
(H) identify areas where application of ad-
ditional resources could expand successful pro-
grams to 1 or more countries in the Western 
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Balkans region by building on the existing expe-
rience and program architecture; 
(I) compare existing single-country sector 
analyses to determine areas of focus that would 
benefit from a regional approach with respect to 
the Western Balkans region; and 
(J) promote intraregional trade throughout 
the Western Balkans region through— 
(i) programming, including grants, co-
operative agreements, and other forms of 
assistance; 
(ii) expanding awareness of the avail-
ability of loans and other financial instru-
ments from the United States Government; 
and 
(iii) coordinating access to existing 
trade instruments available through allies 
and partners in the Western Balkans re-
gion, including the European Union and 
international financial institutions. 
(3) SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROJECTS.—The initiative authorized under para-
graph (1) should facilitate and prioritize support for 
regional infrastructure projects, including— 
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(A) transportation projects that build 
roads, bridges, railways and other physical in-
frastructure to facilitate travel of goods and 
people throughout the Western Balkans region; 
(B) technical support and investments 
needed to meet United States and European 
Union standards for air travel, including 
screening and information sharing; 
(C) the development of telecommunications 
networks with trusted providers; 
(D) infrastructure projects that connect 
Western Balkans countries to each other and to 
countries with which they share a border; 
(E) the effective analysis of tenders and 
transparent procurement processes; 
(F) investment transparency programs 
that will help countries in the Western Balkans 
analyze gaps and establish institutional and 
regulatory reforms necessary— 
(i) to create an enabling environment 
for trade and investment; and 
(ii) to strengthen protections against 
suspect investments through public pro-
curement and privatization and through 
foreign direct investments; 
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(G) sharing best practices learned from the 
United States and other international partners 
to ensure that institutional and regulatory 
mechanisms for addressing these issues are fair, 
nonarbitrary, effective, and free from corrup-
tion; 
(H) projects that support regional energy 
security and reduce dependence on Russian en-
ergy; 
(I) technical assistance and generating pri-
vate investment in projects that promote 
connectivity and energy-sharing in the Western 
Balkans region; 
(J) technical assistance to support regional 
collaboration on environmental protection that 
includes governmental, political, civic, and busi-
ness stakeholders; and 
(K) technical assistance to develop financ-
ing options and help create linkages with poten-
tial financing institutions and investors. 
(4) REQUIREMENTS.—All programming under 
the initiative authorized under paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) be open to the participation of Albania, 
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, 
North Macedonia, and Serbia; 
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(B) be consistent with European Union ac-
cession requirements; 
(C) be focused on retaining talent within 
the Western Balkans; 
(D) promote government policies in West-
ern Balkans countries that encourage free and 
fair competition, sound governance, environ-
mental protection, and business environments 
that are conducive to sustainable and inclusive 
economic growth; and 
(E) include a public diplomacy strategy to 
inform local and regional audiences in the 
Western Balkans region about the initiative, in-
cluding specific programs and projects. 
(d) UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
FINANCE CORPORATION.— 
(1) APPOINTMENTS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, subject 
to the availability of appropriations, the Chief Exec-
utive Officer of the United States International De-
velopment Finance Corporation, in collaboration 
with the Secretary of State, should consider includ-
ing a regional office with responsibilities for the 
Western Balkans within the Corporation’s plans to 
open new regional offices. 
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(2) JOINT REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Chief Executive Officer of the United States Inter-
national Development Finance Corporation and the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development shall submit a joint re-
port to the appropriate congressional committees 
that includes— 
(A) an assessment of the benefits of pro-
viding sovereign loan guarantees to countries in 
the Western Balkans to support infrastructure 
and energy diversification projects; 
(B) an outline of additional resources, such 
as tools, funding, and personnel, which may be 
required to offer sovereign loan guarantees in 
the Western Balkans; and 
(C) an assessment of how the United 
States International Development Finance Cor-
poration can deploy its insurance products in 
support of bonds or other instruments issued to 
raise capital through United States financial 
markets in the Western Balkans. 
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SEC. 7. PROMOTING CROSS-CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL 
ENGAGEMENT. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) promoting partnerships between United 
States universities and universities in the Western 
Balkans, particularly universities in traditionally 
under-served communities, advances United States 
foreign policy goals and requires a whole-of-govern-
ment approach, including the utilization of public- 
private partnerships; 
(2) such university partnerships would provide 
opportunities for exchanging academic ideas, tech-
nical expertise, research, and cultural understanding 
for the benefit of the United States; and 
(3) the seven countries in the Western Balkans 
meet the requirements under section 105(c)(4) of 
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2151c(c)(4)). 
(b) UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS.—The President, 
working through the Secretary of State, is authorized to 
provide assistance, consistent with section 105 of the For-
eign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151c), to pro-
mote the establishment of partnerships between United 
States universities and universities in the Western Bal-
kans, including— 
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(1) supporting research and analysis on foreign 
policy, cyber resilience, and disinformation; 
(2) working with partner governments to re-
form policies, improve curricula, strengthen data 
systems, train teachers and students, including 
English language teaching, and to provide quality, 
inclusive learning materials; 
(3) encouraging knowledge exchanges to help 
provide 
individuals, 
particularly 
at-risk 
youth, 
women, people with disabilities, and other vulner-
able, marginalized, or underserved communities, 
with relevant education, training, and skills for 
meaningful employment; 
(4) promoting teaching and research exchanges 
between institutions of higher education in the West-
ern Balkans and in the United States; and 
(5) encouraging alliances and exchanges with 
like-minded institutions of education within the 
Western Balkans and the larger European continent. 
SEC. 8. PEACE CORPS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Peace Corps, whose mission is to promote 
world peace and friendship, in part by helping the people 
of interested countries in meeting their need for trained 
men and women, provides an invaluable opportunity to 
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connect the people of the United States with the people 
of the Western Balkans. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace 
Corps should submit a report to the appropriate congres-
sional committees that includes an analysis of current op-
portunities for Peace Corps expansion in the Western Bal-
kans region. 
SEC. 9. YOUNG BALKAN LEADERS INITIATIVE. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that regular people-to-people exchange programs 
that bring religious leaders, journalists, civil society mem-
bers, politicians, and other individuals from the Western 
Balkans to the United States will strengthen existing rela-
tionships and advance United States interests and shared 
values in the Western Balkans region. 
(b) BOLD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNG BAL-
KANS LEADERS.— 
(1) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—The Department of 
State, through BOLD, a leadership program for 
young leaders in certain Western Balkans countries, 
plays an important role to develop young leaders in 
improving civic engagement and economic develop-
ment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Mon-
tenegro. 
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(2) EXPANSION.—BOLD should be expanded, 
subject to the availability of appropriations, to the 
entire Western Balkans region. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of State should 
further develop and implement BOLD, which shall here-
after be known as the ‘‘Young Balkan Leaders Initiative’’, 
to promote educational and professional development for 
young adult leaders and professionals in the Western Bal-
kans who have demonstrated a passion to contribute to 
the continued development of the Western Balkans region. 
(d) CONDUCT
OF INITIATIVE.—The goals of the 
Young Balkan Leaders Initiative shall be— 
(1) to further build the capacity of young Bal-
kan leaders in the Western Balkans in the areas of 
business and information technology, cybersecurity 
and digitization, agriculture, civic engagement, and 
public administration; 
(2) to support young Balkan leaders by offering 
professional development, training, and networking 
opportunities, particularly in the areas of leadership, 
innovation, civic engagement, elections, human 
rights, entrepreneurship, good governance, public ad-
ministration, and journalism; 
(3) to support young political, parliamentary, 
and civic Balkan leaders in collaboration on regional 
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initiatives related to good governance, environmental 
protection, government ethics, and minority inclu-
sion; 
(4) to provide increased economic and technical 
assistance to young Balkan leaders to promote eco-
nomic growth and strengthen ties between busi-
nesses, investors, and entrepreneurs in the United 
States and in Western Balkans countries; 
(5) to tailor such assistance to advance the par-
ticular objectives of each United States mission in 
the Western Balkans within the framework outlined 
in this subsection; and 
(6) to secure funding for such assistance from 
existing funds available to each United States Mis-
sion in the Western Balkans. 
(e) FELLOWSHIPS.—Under the Young Balkan Lead-
ers Initiative, the Secretary of State shall award fellow-
ships to young leaders from the Western Balkans who— 
(1) are between 18 and 35 years of age; 
(2) have demonstrated strong capabilities in en-
trepreneurship, innovation, public service, and lead-
ership; 
(3) have had a positive impact in their commu-
nities, organizations, or institutions, including by 
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promoting cross-regional and multiethnic coopera-
tion; and 
(4) represent a cross-section of geographic, gen-
der, political, and cultural diversity. 
(f) PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP CEN-
TER.—Under the Young Balkan Leaders Initiative, the 
Secretary of State shall take advantage of existing and 
future public diplomacy facilities (commonly known as 
‘‘American Spaces’’) to hire staff and develop program-
ming for the establishment of a flagship public engage-
ment and leadership center in the Western Balkans that 
seeks— 
(1) to counter disinformation and malign influ-
ence; 
(2) to promote cross-cultural engagement; 
(3) to provide training for young leaders from 
Western Balkans countries described in subsection 
(e); 
(4) to harmonize the efforts of existing venues 
throughout Western Balkans countries established 
by the Office of American Spaces; and 
(5) to annually bring together participants from 
the Young Balkans Leaders Initiative to provide 
platforms for regional networking. 
(g) BRIEFING ON CERTAIN EXCHANGE PROGRAMS.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of State shall provide a briefing to the appro-
priate congressional committees that describes the 
status of exchange programs involving the Western 
Balkans region. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The briefing required under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) assess the factors constraining the 
number and frequency of participants from 
Western Balkans countries in the International 
Visitor Leadership Program of the Department 
of State; 
(B) identify the resources that are nec-
essary to address the factors described in sub-
paragraph (A); and 
(C) describe a strategy for connecting 
alumni and participants of professional develop-
ment exchange programs of the Department of 
State in the Western Balkans with alumni and 
participants from other countries in Europe, to 
enhance inter-region and intra-region people-to- 
people ties. 
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SEC. 10. SUPPORTING CYBERSECURITY AND CYBER RESIL-
IENCE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) United States support for cybersecurity, 
cyber resilience, and secure ICT infrastructure in 
Western Balkans countries will strengthen the re-
gion’s ability to defend itself from and respond to 
malicious cyber activity conducted by nonstate and 
foreign actors, including foreign governments, that 
seek to influence the region; 
(2) insecure ICT networks that are vulnerable 
to manipulation can increase opportunities for— 
(A) the compromise of cyber infrastruc-
ture, including data networks, electronic infra-
structure, and software systems; and 
(B) the use of online information oper-
ations by adversaries and malign actors to un-
dermine United States allies and interests; and 
(3) it is in the national security interest of the 
United States to support the cybersecurity and cyber 
resilience of Western Balkans countries. 
(b) INTERAGENCY REPORT ON CYBERSECURITY AND 
THE DIGITAL INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT IN WESTERN 
BALKANS COUNTRIES.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, 
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in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, and the heads of other rel-
evant Federal agencies, shall submit a report to the appro-
priate congressional committees that contains— 
(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 Western Balkans country; 
(3) a review of existing United States Govern-
ment cyber and digital initiatives that— 
(A) counter influence operations and safe-
guard elections and democratic processes in 
Western Balkans countries; 
(B) strengthen ICT infrastructure and cy-
bersecurity capacity in the Western Balkans; 
(C) support democracy and internet free-
dom in Western Balkans countries; and 
(D) build cyber capacity of governments 
who are allies or partners of the United States; 
(4) an assessment of cyber threat information 
sharing between the United States and Western Bal-
kans countries; 
(5) an assessment of— 
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(A) options for the United States to better 
support cybersecurity and cyber resilience in 
Western Balkans countries through changes to 
current assistance authorities; and 
(B) the advantages or limitations, such as 
funding or office space, of posting cyber profes-
sionals from other Federal departments and 
agencies to United States diplomatic posts in 
Western Balkans countries and providing rel-
evant training to Foreign Service Officers; and 
(6) any additional support needed from the 
United States for the cybersecurity and cyber resil-
ience of the following NATO Allies: Albania, Monte-
negro, North Macedonia, and Croatia. 
SEC. 11. RELATIONS BETWEEN KOSOVO AND SERBIA. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the Agreement on the Path to Normaliza-
tion of Relations, which was agreed to by Kosovo 
and Serbia on February 27, 2023, with the facilita-
tion of the European Union, is a positive step for-
ward in advancing normalization between the two 
countries; 
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(2) Serbia and Kosovo should seek to make im-
mediate progress on the Implementation Annex to 
the agreement referred to in paragraph (1); 
(3) once sufficient progress has been made on 
the Implementation Annex, the United States should 
consider advancing initiatives to strengthen bilateral 
relations with both countries, which could include— 
(A) establishing bilateral strategic dia-
logues with Kosovo and Serbia; and 
(B) advancing concrete initiatives to deep-
en trade and investment with both countries; 
and 
(4) the United States should continue to sup-
port a comprehensive final agreement between 
Kosovo and Serbia based on mutual recognition. 
(b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 
United States Government that— 
(1) it shall not pursue any policy that advocates 
for land swaps, partition, or other forms of redraw-
ing borders along ethnic lines in the Western Bal-
kans as a means to arbitrate disputes between na-
tion states in the region; and 
(2) it should support pluralistic democracies in 
countries in the Western Balkans as a means to pre-
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vent a return to the ethnic strife that once charac-
terized the region. 
SEC. 12. REPORTS ON RUSSIAN AND CHINESE MALIGN IN-
FLUENCE OPERATIONS AND CAMPAIGNS IN 
THE WESTERN BALKANS. 
(a) REPORTS REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every two 
years thereafter, the Secretary of State, in coordination 
with the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National 
Intelligence, and the heads of other Federal departments 
or agencies, as appropriate, shall submit a report to the 
appropriate congressional committees regarding Russian 
and Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns 
carried out with respect to Balkan countries that seek— 
(1) to undermine democratic institutions; 
(2) to promote political instability; and 
(3) to harm the interests of the United States 
and North Atlantic Treaty Organization member 
and partner states in the Western Balkans. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) an assessment of the objectives of the Rus-
sian Federation and the People’s Republic of China 
regarding malign influence operations and cam-
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