To strengthen relations between the United States and the countries in the Western Balkans, and for other purposes.

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Tillis and Mrs. Shaheen, proposes adding a new subtitle called the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act to bill S. 2296.

The purpose of this amendment is to establish a comprehensive U.S. strategy to support six Western Balkans countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

Key Changes and Additions

The amendment aims to add the following to the bill:

• Economic and Democratic Support: It directs the U.S. to increase business investment, support small businesses (especially those owned by women and youth), and help these countries reduce their dependence on Russian energy.

• Governance and Security: It establishes initiatives to fight corruption, improve cyber resilience, and protect democratic institutions from disinformation.

• Sanctions: It codifies existing executive orders for sanctions against people who threaten stability in the region, while providing a process for the President to terminate or waive these sanctions.

• Strategic Partnerships: It authorizes the promotion of partnerships between U.S. and Western Balkans universities and continues the Young Balkan Leaders Initiative to develop young professionals.

• Foreign Influence Monitoring: It requires regular reports on malign influence operations conducted by Russia and China intended to undermine democratic institutions or harm U.S. and NATO interests in the region.

• Regional Diplomacy: It states a U.S. policy against redrawing borders along ethnic lines and supports the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.