Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§10707 Young Balkan Leaders Initiative

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 114— - WESTERN BALKANS DEMOCRACY AND PROSPERITY › § 10707

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of State must continue the BOLD Leadership Program under the new name Young Balkan Leaders Initiative to support young adults from the Western Balkans in education and careers. Congress believes people-to-people exchanges that bring religious leaders, journalists, civil society members, politicians, and others to the United States build stronger ties and help U.S. interests. The program has been important for leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro. The Initiative should help build skills in areas like business, IT and cyber security, agriculture, civic engagement, and public administration. It should offer training, networking, and professional development in leadership, innovation, elections, human rights, entrepreneurship, good governance, and journalism. It should also support regional cooperation on governance, the environment, ethics, and minority inclusion, and provide economic and technical help to grow ties between U.S. and Balkan businesses. The Secretary may give fellowships to people ages 18 to 35 who show strong leadership or entrepreneurship, have helped their communities (including cross-regional or multiethnic work), and reflect their country’s demographics. No later than 180 days after December 18, 2025, the Secretary must brief the relevant Congressional committees on the status of exchange programs involving the Western Balkans.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §10707

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)regular people-to-people exchange programs that bring religious leaders, journalists, civil society members, politicians, and other individuals from the Western Balkans to the United States will strengthen existing relationships and advance United States interests and shared values in the Western Balkans region; and

(2)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 development in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro.

(b)The Secretary of State should continue the BOLD Leadership Program, which shall hereafter be known as the “Young Balkan Leaders Initiative”, to promote educational and professional development for young adult leaders and professionals in the Western Balkans who have demonstrated a passion to contribute to the continued development of the Western Balkans region.

(c)The goals of the Young Balkan Leaders Initiative should include—

(1)building the capacity of young Balkan leaders in the Western Balkans in the areas of business and information technology, cyber security and digitization, agriculture, civic engagement, and public administration;

(2)supporting 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 administration, and journalism;

(3)supporting young political, parliamentary, and civic Balkan leaders in collaboration on regional initiatives related to good governance, environmental protection, government ethics, and minority inclusion; and

(4)providing increased economic and technical assistance to young Balkan leaders to promote economic growth and strengthen ties between businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs in the United States and in Western Balkans countries.

(d)Under the Young Balkan Leaders Initiative, the Secretary of State is authorized to award fellowships to young leaders from the Western Balkans who—

(1)are between 18 and 35 years of age;

(2)have demonstrated strong capabilities in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership;

(3)have had a positive impact in their communities, organizations, or institutions, including by promoting cross-regional and multiethnic cooperation; and

(4)represent a cross-section of the country’s demographics.

(e)Not later than 180 days after December 18, 2025, the Secretary of State shall provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of Congress that describes the status of exchange programs involving the Western Balkans region.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 10707

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73