H.R. 10183 — SRBIJA Act

This section defines the European Union, NATO, and the Secretary of State for purposes of the Act.

This section states the sense of Congress that Serbia has experienced democratic backsliding under President Aleksandar Vučić, including problems with rule of law, judicial independence, media freedom, and corruption, and that the government has used excessive force against student-led protests. It further states that the United States should press Serbia for independent investigations into the November 2024 Novi Sad railway station collapse that killed 16 people and into allegations of excessive force, while noting Serbia’s deepening ties with Russia, China, and Iran.

This section establishes United States policy to support democratic governance and rule of law in Serbia, to impose financial and visa sanctions on malign actors in the Western Balkans under Executive Orders 14033 and 14024, and to impose sanctions under section 8335 of the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act on foreign persons who threaten regional peace or stability, undermine democratic institutions, engage in corruption or human rights abuses, or obstruct specified agreements including the Dayton Accords and the Prespa Agreement.

This section directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense, to submit an unclassified report within 180 days to the Senate and House foreign relations, intelligence, and armed services committees examining Russian and Chinese political, economic, energy, security, and infrastructure influence in Serbia and associated risks to US interests. It also requires submission within 90 days of a strategy to the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees assessing tools for independent media, civil society, and judicial reform in Serbia, Serbia’s alignment with NATO and the EU, and support for the EU-led Serbia-Kosovo dialogue.

This section prohibits Department of State participation in the U.S.-Serbia Strategic Dialogue or expenditure of related funds unless the Secretary submits a certification to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee at least 10 days in advance. The certification must confirm that the dialogue will address Serbia’s relations with Russia, China, and Iran; free and fair elections; anti-corruption, public procurement, and rule of law reforms; and democratic governance, press freedom, and freedom of assembly.

This section authorizes additional assistance to Serbia upon the President's certification of significant and sustained progress toward independent judicial accountability, media freedom, and alignment of Serbia's foreign and security policy with that of the European Union and NATO. It expresses the sense of Congress that, following such certification and if Serbia accounts for the Novi Sad canopy collapse and excessive use of force against protesters, the President should improve bilateral relations, enhance people-to-people and academic exchanges, and expand security cooperation aligned with NATO and EU priorities.