# Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act: Plain Language Summary

This bill is about strengthening the United States' relationship with seven countries in southeastern Europe—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—collectively known as the Western Balkans. The main goal is to boost trade, investment, and democratic development in this region while countering what Congress sees as harmful influence from Russia and China. Essentially, the U.S. government is saying it wants to help these countries become more prosperous, stable democracies that are closely aligned with Europe and the West rather than dependent on Russia or China.

The bill tackles several practical problems the region faces. Many people, especially young people, are leaving these countries because of limited job opportunities and economic struggles, even though some progress has been made. The bill pushes for more American business investment and trade partnerships to create jobs and economic growth. It also addresses corruption, which Congress identifies as a major obstacle to development, and calls for stronger support for independent media, transparent government, and fair elections. The bill specifically expresses concern about Serbia's recent elections, which international observers said had serious irregularities, signaling that the U.S. wants to see genuine democratic improvements.

On security and energy, the bill emphasizes reducing these countries' dependence on Russian natural gas and fossil fuels, which Congress argues ties their economies and politics to Russia. It calls for helping them develop cleaner energy alternatives and diversify their energy sources. The bill also focuses on defending against cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns that Congress says Russia and China are using to destabilize the region and undermine democratic institutions. Additionally, it supports these countries' efforts to join the European Union and NATO, viewing this as beneficial for regional stability and alignment with Western values.