Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act

This legislation aims to deepen ties between the United States and the Western Balkans. It encourages more trade and investment and backs efforts that support economic growth and democracy in the region. It also puts sanctions related to the Western Balkans into law.

It focuses on people and stability. The bill supports creating U.S.–Balkans university partnerships to improve teaching and English learning, strengthen research on cybersecurity and disinformation, and help at‑risk youth, women, and people with disabilities gain skills for jobs. It asks the Peace Corps to study expanding service in the region within 180 days. It renames and expands the BOLD youth program as the Young Balkan Leaders Initiative, offering fellowships for ages 18–35 and building a public “American Spaces” center to counter disinformation and train young leaders. It strengthens cyber defenses by ordering a one‑year U.S. government report on how to help secure technology networks, including support for NATO allies in the region. It backs progress between Kosovo and Serbia toward normal relations and rejects any plan to redraw borders along ethnic lines. Finally, it requires public reports—starting within 180 days and then every two years—on Russian and Chinese interference in the Western Balkans and how the United States is responding.

• Who is affected: students and universities; young professionals (18–35) in the Western Balkans; Peace Corps volunteers and host communities; U.S. agencies working on cybersecurity and countering foreign interference; and communities tied to Kosovo–Serbia relations.
• What changes: support for university partnerships and exchanges; expansion of a youth leadership program with fellowships and a public center; stronger focus on cyber resilience; written sanctions policy; and regular reporting on Russian and Chinese interference.
• When: key deadlines include 180 days (Peace Corps study; first interference report), 1 year (cyber report), and every two years after that (follow‑up interference reports).