Congress finds the following:
(1)The Western Balkans countries (the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 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, stability, and prosperity of that continent.
(2)Continued peace, stability, and prosperity in the Western Balkans is directly tied to the opportunities for democratic and economic advancement available to the citizens and residents of those six countries.
(3)It is in the mutual interest of the United States and the countries of the Western Balkans to promote stable and sustainable economic growth and development in the region.
(4)The reforms and integration with the European Union pursued by countries in the Western Balkans have led to significant democratic and economic progress in the region.
(5)Despite economic progress, rates of poverty and unemployment in the Western Balkans remain higher than in neighboring European Union countries.
(6)Out-migration, particularly of youth, is affecting demographics in each Western Balkans country, resulting in population decline in all six countries.
(7)Implementing critical economic and governance reforms could help enable investment and employment opportunities in the Western Balkans, especially for youth, and can provide powerful tools for economic development and for encouraging broader participation in a political process that increases 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 potential 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 in promoting and facilitating opportunities for United States 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 region.
(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 infrastructure increases risks to the functioning of government and the delivery of public services.
(13)United States Cyber Command, the Department of State, and other Federal agencies play a critical role in defending the national security interests 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 security priority for the United States, which is exemplified by offices and programs across the Federal Government that support cybersecurity.
(15)Corruption and disinformation proliferate in political environments marked by autocratic control or partisan conflict.
(16)Dependence on Russian sources of fossil fuels and natural gas for the countries of the Western Balkans ties their economies and politics to the Russian Federation and inhibits their aspirations for European integration.
(17)Reducing the reliance of the Western Balkans 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 impact on strategic competition, democracy, and economic 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 immediate aftermath are cause for deep concern about the 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 Institutions and Human Rights, which—
(A)found “unjust conditions” for the election;
(B)found “numerous procedural deficiencies, including inconsistent application of safeguards during voting and counting, frequent instances of overcrowding, breaches in secrecy of the vote, and numerous instances of group voting”; and
(C)asserted that “voting must be repeated” in certain polling stations.
(21)The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe also noted that Serbian officials accused primarily peaceful protestors, opposition parties, and civil society of “attempting to destabilize the government”, a concerning allegation that threatens the safety of important elements of Serbian society.
(22)Democratic countries whose values are in alignment with the United States make for stronger and more durable partnerships.
