S. 1909, the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act, directs the U.S. government to strengthen economic, trade, and security partnerships with seven Western Balkans countries while countering Russian and Chinese influence in the region. The bill requires the State Department and USAID to develop and submit a comprehensive 5-year economic and democratic resilience strategy within 180 days, codifies existing sanctions against individuals destabilizing the region, and establishes exemptions for U.S. intelligence activities and goods importation. Key initiatives include a Young Balkan Leaders program to develop youth capacity in entrepreneurship and civic leadership, enhanced cybersecurity support, and university and Peace Corps partnerships. The legislation also directs biennial congressional reports on foreign malign influence campaigns in the region and supports Kosovo-Serbia normalization efforts without allowing border changes along ethnic lines. These measures aim to support the region's democratic development, economic growth, and integration toward EU and NATO membership.
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