The United States Congress has introduced a new bill titled the “Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act,” aimed at supporting democracy, economic development, and the rule of law in the region.
The document, submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives, covers Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Croatia.
According to the congressional report, corruption—particularly at high political levels—remains the main obstacle to democratic and economic development in the region.
Section 5 of the bill предусматриes sanctions against individuals and entities that threaten stability and the rule of law, as well as mandatory reports on malign influences from Russia and China, including disinformation campaigns and cyber threats.
Albania is mentioned as one of the countries facing challenges in public procurement, the functioning of independent institutions, and electoral processes.
In Section 6, the bill calls for the creation of national anti-corruption programs in each Western Balkan country and the strengthening of existing strategies to combat political and administrative corruption. These measures include oversight of public procurement, information protection, and cyber infrastructure. Independent media are considered an important partner in exposing corruption, and Congress encourages the training of investigative journalists.
A key component is also the “Western Balkans Young Leaders Initiative” outlined in Section 9, which aims to develop young leaders in business, technology, governance, and journalism. The bill also promotes educational programs and exchanges with the United States, including cooperation with universities.