[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9123 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9123

 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

                             July 24, 2024

  Mr. Keating (for himself, Mr. Lamborn, 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 Representatives 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.
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 
                            campaigns in the Western Balkans.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Western Balkans countries (the Republic 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, 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 seven countries.
            (3) It is in the mutual interest of the United States and 
        the seven 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 seven 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 
        trade and prosperity for all.
            (8) Existing regional economic efforts 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 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 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.
            (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, the United States 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.

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 enterprises owned by and 
        employing women and youth;
            (4) work with allies and partners committed to improving 
        the rule of law, energy resource diversification, 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 energy 
                sources and fossil fuels;
                    (B) to increase energy diversification, efficiency, 
                and conservation; and
                    (C) to facilitate the transition to cleaner and 
                more reliable sources of energy, including renewables, 
                as appropriate;
            (6) continue to assist in the development, within the 
        Western Balkans, of--
                    (A) strong civil societies;
                    (B) public-private partnerships;
                    (C) independent media;
                    (D) transparent, accountable, citizen-responsive 
                governance, including equal representation 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 section 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 a safe and secure environment, 
                particularly in the realm of defense;
                    (C) working within NATO to encourage contingency 
                planning for an international military force to 
                maintain a safe and secure environment 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, Montenegro, and Serbia by supporting meeting the 
        benchmarks required for their accession;
            (10) continue to support the overarching mission of the 
        Berlin Process and locally-driven initiatives that are 
        inclusive of all Western Balkans countries and remains aligned 
        with the objectives and standards laid out by the European 
        Union as requirements for accession to the European Union;
            (11) continue to support the cultural heritage, and 
        recognize the languages, of the Western Balkans;
            (12) coordinate closely with the European Union, the United 
        Kingdom, and other allies and partners on sanctions 
        designations in Western Balkans countries and work to align 
        efforts as much as possible to demonstrate a clear commitment 
        to upholding democratic values;
            (13) expand bilateral security cooperation with non-NATO 
        member Western Balkans countries, particularly 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 organizations, and industry leaders;
            (15) develop a series of cyber resilience standards, 
        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 cyber 
        security and ICT infrastructure;
            (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 Balkans; 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 committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' 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.
            (3) Western balkans.--The term ``Western Balkans'' means 
        the region comprised of the following 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 listed 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.
    (c) Executive Orders Specified.--The executive orders specified in 
this subsection are--
            (1) Executive Order 13219, as amended by Executive Order 
        13304 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property of 
        persons who threaten international stabilization efforts in the 
        Western Balkans); 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 contributing to the destabilizing situation 
        in the Western Balkans), as in effect on such date of 
        enactment.
    (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 termination date; or
            (2) otherwise no longer meets the criteria that was the 
        basis for such sanctions.
    (e) Waiver.--
            (1) In general.--The President may waive the application of 
        sanctions under this section for renewable periods not to 
        exceed 180 days if the President--
                    (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 granting of 
                the waiver, submits to the appropriate congressional 
                committees a notice of and justification 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 transaction 
                for the provision of agricultural commodities, food, 
                medicine, medical devices, humanitarian assistance, or 
                for humanitarian purposes; or
                    (B) transactions that are necessary for, or related 
                to, the activities described in subparagraph (A).
            (2) Compliance with international obligations and law 
        enforcement activities.--Sanctions under this Act shall not 
        apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling such 
        alien is necessary--
                    (A) to comply with United States obligations 
                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 Relations, 
                        done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into 
                        force March 19, 1967; or
                            (iii) any other international agreement; or
                    (B) to carry out or assist law enforcement activity 
                in the United States.
            (3) Exception for intelligence activities.--Sanctions under 
        this Act shall not apply to--
                    (A) any activity subject to the reporting 
                requirements under title V of the National Security Act 
                of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); or
                    (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 property 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 manufactured 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 necessary to carry out the provisions 
of this section (which may include regulatory exceptions), including 
under section 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers 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.

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 provide 
        training to, civilian law enforcement agencies and judicial 
        institutions, and other relevant administrative bodies, of the 
        Western Balkans countries, to improve the efficiency, 
        transparency, and accountability of such agencies and 
        institutions;
            (3) strengthens existing national anti-corruption 
        strategies--
                    (A) to combat political corruption, particularly in 
                the judiciary, independent election oversight 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, 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 
        initiative; 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 Balkans 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
                    (B) United States investments in and assistance 
                toward creating a more integrated region ensures 
                political stability and security for the region.
            (2) 5-year strategy for economic development 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 congressional committees a regional economic 
        development and democratic resilience strategy for the Western 
        Balkans that complements the efforts of the European Union, 
        European nations, and other multilateral financing 
        institutions--
                    (A) to consider the full set of tools and resources 
                available from the relevant agencies;
                    (B) to include efforts to ensure coordination 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--
                            (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 
                        regional cooperation initiatives; and
                            (iv) ways to increase United States trade 
                        and investment within the Western Balkans;
                    (D) to develop human and institutional capacity and 
                infrastructure across multiple sectors of economies, 
                including clean energy, energy efficiency, agriculture, 
                small and medium-sized enterprise development, health, 
                and cyber-security;
                    (E) to assist with the development and 
                implementation of regional and international trade 
                agreements;
                    (F) to support women-owned enterprises;
                    (G) to promote government and civil society 
                policies and programs that combat corruption 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 environments 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 Western 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 Initiative.--
            (1) Authorization.--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, may coordinate a regional 
        trade and development initiative for the region comprised of 
        each Western Balkans country and any European Union member 
        country that shares a border with a Western Balkans country 
        (referred to in this subsection as the ``Western Balkans 
        region'') in accordance with this subsection.
            (2) Initiative elements.--The initiative authorized 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 Balkans;
                    (D) support startup companies, including companies 
                led by youth or women, in the Western Balkans region 
                by--
                            (i) providing training in business skills 
                        and leadership; and
                            (ii) providing opportunities to connect to 
                        sources of capital;
                    (E) encourage and promote inward and outward trade 
                and investment through engagement with the Western 
                Balkans diaspora communities in the United States and 
                abroad;
                    (F) provide assistance to the governments and civil 
                society organizations of Western Balkans countries to 
                develop--
                            (i) regulations to ensure fair and 
                        effective investment; and
                            (ii) screening tools to identify and deter 
                        malign investments and other coercive economic 
                        practices;
                    (G) review existing assistance programming relating 
                to the Western Balkans across Federal agencies--
                            (i) to eliminate duplication; and
                            (ii) to identify areas of potential 
                        coordination within the Western Balkans region;
                    (H) identify areas where application of additional 
                resources could expand successful programs to 1 or more 
                countries in the Western Balkans region by building on 
                the existing experience 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, 
                        cooperative agreements, and other forms of 
                        assistance;
                            (ii) expanding awareness of the 
                        availability of loans and other financial 
                        instruments from the United States Government; 
                        and
                            (iii) coordinating access to existing trade 
                        instruments available through allies and 
                        partners in the Western Balkans region, 
                        including the European Union and international 
                        financial institutions.
            (3) Support for regional infrastructure projects.--The 
        initiative authorized under paragraph (1) should facilitate and 
        prioritize support for regional infrastructure projects, 
        including--
                    (A) transportation projects that build roads, 
                bridges, railways and other physical infrastructure 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 procurement 
                        and privatization and through foreign direct 
                        investments;
                    (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 corruption;
                    (H) projects that support regional energy security 
                and reduce dependence on Russian energy;
                    (I) technical assistance and generating private 
                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 business 
                stakeholders; and
                    (K) technical assistance to develop financing 
                options and help create linkages with potential 
                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;
                    (B) be consistent with European Union accession 
                requirements;
                    (C) be focused on retaining talent within the 
                Western Balkans;
                    (D) promote government policies in Western Balkans 
                countries that encourage free and fair competition, 
                sound governance, environmental 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, including 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 Executive Officer of the United 
        States International Development Finance Corporation, in 
        collaboration with the Secretary of State, should consider 
        including a regional office with responsibilities for the 
        Western Balkans within the Corporation's plans to open new 
        regional offices.
            (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 International Development Finance Corporation 
        and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
        International Development shall submit a joint report to the 
        appropriate congressional committees that includes--
                    (A) an assessment of the benefits of providing 
                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 Corporation 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.

SEC. 7. PROMOTING CROSS-CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress 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-government approach, including the 
        utilization of public-private partnerships;
            (2) such university partnerships would provide 
        opportunities for exchanging academic ideas, technical 
        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 Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2151c), to promote the establishment of partnerships between United 
States universities and universities in the Western Balkans, 
including--
            (1) supporting research and analysis on foreign policy, 
        cyber resilience, and disinformation;
            (2) working with partner governments to reform 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 vulnerable, 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 Western 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 Congress 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 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 congressional committees that includes an 
analysis of current opportunities for Peace Corps expansion in the 
Western Balkans region.

SEC. 9. YOUNG BALKAN LEADERS INITIATIVE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 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.
    (b) BOLD Leadership Program for Young Balkans 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 development 
        in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro.
            (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 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.
    (d) Conduct of Initiative.--The goals of the Young Balkan Leaders 
Initiative shall be--
            (1) to further build 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) 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 administration, and 
        journalism;
            (3) to support young political, parliamentary, and civic 
        Balkan leaders in collaboration on regional initiatives related 
        to good governance, environmental protection, government 
        ethics, and minority inclusion;
            (4) to provide 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;
            (5) to tailor such assistance to advance the particular 
        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 Mission in the Western 
        Balkans.
    (e) Fellowships.--Under the Young Balkan Leaders Initiative, the 
Secretary of State shall 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 geographic, gender, 
        political, and cultural diversity.
    (f) Public Engagement and Leadership Center.--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 programming for the 
establishment of a flagship public engagement and leadership center in 
the Western Balkans that seeks--
            (1) to counter disinformation and malign influence;
            (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.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 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 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 necessary to 
                address the factors described in subparagraph (A); and
                    (C) describe a strategy for connecting alumni and 
                participants of professional development 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.

SEC. 10. SUPPORTING CYBERSECURITY AND CYBER RESILIENCE IN THE WESTERN 
              BALKANS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) United States support for cybersecurity, cyber 
        resilience, and secure ICT infrastructure in Western Balkans 
        countries will strengthen the region'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 infrastructure, 
                including data networks, electronic infrastructure, and 
                software systems; and
                    (B) the use of online information operations by 
                adversaries and malign actors to undermine 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, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall 
submit a report to the appropriate 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 Government cyber and 
        digital initiatives that--
                    (A) counter influence operations and safeguard 
                elections and democratic processes in Western Balkans 
                countries;
                    (B) strengthen ICT infrastructure and cybersecurity 
                capacity in the Western Balkans;
                    (C) support democracy and internet freedom 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 Balkans countries;
            (5) an assessment of--
                    (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 professionals from 
                other Federal departments and agencies to United States 
                diplomatic posts in Western Balkans countries and 
                providing relevant training to Foreign Service 
                Officers; and
            (6) any additional support needed from the United States 
        for the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of the following 
        NATO Allies: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Croatia.

SEC. 11. RELATIONS BETWEEN KOSOVO AND SERBIA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Agreement on the Path to Normalization of 
        Relations, which was agreed to by Kosovo and Serbia on February 
        27, 2023, with the facilitation of the European Union, is a 
        positive step forward in advancing normalization between the 
        two countries;
            (2) Serbia and Kosovo should seek to make immediate 
        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 dialogues with 
                Kosovo and Serbia; and
                    (B) advancing concrete initiatives to deepen trade 
                and investment with both countries; and
            (4) the United States should continue to support 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 redrawing borders along 
        ethnic lines in the Western Balkans as a means to arbitrate 
        disputes between nation states in the region; and
            (2) it should support pluralistic democracies in countries 
        in the Western Balkans as a means to prevent a return to the 
        ethnic strife that once characterized the region.

SEC. 12. REPORTS ON RUSSIAN AND CHINESE MALIGN INFLUENCE 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 Russian 
        Federation and the People's Republic of China regarding malign 
        influence operations and campaigns carried out with respect to 
        Western Balkans countries--
                    (A) to undermine democratic institutions, including 
                the planning and execution of democratic elections;
                    (B) to promote political instability; and
                    (C) to manipulate the information environment;
            (2) the activities and roles of the Department of State and 
        other relevant Federal agencies in countering Russian and 
        Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns;
            (3) a comprehensive list identifying--
                    (A) each network, entity and individual, to the 
                extent such information is available, of Russia, China, 
                or any other country with which Russia or China may 
                cooperate, that is supporting such Russian or Chinese 
                malign influence operations or campaigns, including the 
                provision of financial or operational support to 
                activities in a Western Balkans country that may limit 
                freedom of speech or create barriers of access to 
                democratic processes, including exercising the right to 
                vote in a free and fair election; and
                    (B) the role of each such entity in providing such 
                support;
            (4) the identification of the tactics, techniques, and 
        procedures used in Russian or Chinese malign influence 
        operations and campaigns in Western Balkans countries;
            (5) an assessment of the effect of previous Russian or 
        Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns that targeted 
        alliances and partnerships of the United States Armed Forces in 
        the Western Balkans, including the effectiveness of such 
        operations and campaigns in achieving the objectives of Russia 
        and China, respectively;
            (6) the identification of each Western Balkans country with 
        respect to which Russia or China has conducted or attempted to 
        conduct a malign influence operation or campaign;
            (7) an assessment of the capacity and efforts of NATO and 
        of each individual Western Balkans country to counter Russian 
        or Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns carried 
        out with respect to Western Balkans countries;
            (8) the efforts by the United States to combat such malign 
        influence operations in the Western Balkans, including through 
        the Countering Russian Influence Fund and the Countering 
        People's Republic of China Malign Influence Fund;
            (9) an assessment of the tactics, techniques, and 
        procedures that the Secretary of State, in consultation with 
        the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of 
        Defense, determines are likely to be used in future Russian or 
        Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns carried out 
        with respect to Western Balkans countries; and
            (10) recommended authorities or activities that the 
        Department of State and other relevant Federal agencies could 
        enact to increase the United States Government's capacity to 
        counter Russian and Chinese malign influence operations and 
        campaigns in Western Balkans countries.
    (c) Form.--Each report required under subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
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