“A bill to authorize certain actions with respect to Serbia.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section defines the European Union as the political and economic union including its member states and institutions, NATO as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the Secretary as the Secretary of State for purposes of the Act.
This section expresses the sense of Congress that Serbia has experienced democratic backsliding under President Aleksandar Vučić, including rule-of-law deficiencies, excessive force against protesters, and pressure on independent media. It states that Serbia has deepened ties with Russia, China, and Iran despite its EU candidate status, and that the United States should press Serbia for independent investigations into the November 2024 Novi Sad railway collapse and protest-related incidents.
This section states the policy of the United States to support transparent, accountable, and democratic governance in Serbia, condition deepened engagement on verifiable progress toward rule of law, and impose financial and visa sanctions on malign actors destabilizing the Western Balkans under Executive Orders 14033 and 14024. It further directs sanctions under section 8335 of the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act against foreign persons who threaten regional peace or territorial integrity, undermine democratic institutions, engage in corruption or serious human rights abuses, or obstruct agreements including the Prespa Agreement, Ohrid Framework Agreement, UN Security Council Resolution 1244, Dayton Accords, or the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
This section directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense, to submit within 180 days an unclassified report to the Senate and House foreign relations, intelligence, and armed services committees assessing Russian political, economic, energy, and security influence in Serbia, Chinese investment and security ties there, and resulting risks to U.S. interests in defense, telecommunications, and national security. It also requires submission within 90 days of an unclassified strategy to the Senate and House foreign affairs committees outlining U.S. engagement objectives, assessing support for independent media and judicial reform, evaluating Serbia’s alignment with NATO and the EU, and identifying steps to advance the EU-led Serbia-Kosovo dialogue.
This section prohibits Department of State participation in the U.S.-Serbia Strategic Dialogue unless the Secretary certifies in writing, at least 10 days in advance, to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee 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 reform; and democratic governance, press freedom, and freedom of assembly. It bars any official or employee from participating or expending funds absent the certification.
This section authorizes additional assistance to Serbia upon presidential certification of significant and sustained progress toward independent judicial accountability, media freedom, and alignment of Serbia’s foreign and security policy with the European Union and NATO. It expresses the sense of Congress that, following such certification and if Serbia provides a credible accounting of the Novi Sad canopy collapse and accountability for excessive use of force against protesters, the President should improve bilateral relations, bolster Serbia’s democratic institutions and resilience to malign influence, enhance people-to-people and academic exchanges, and maintain or expand security cooperation aligned with NATO and EU priorities.