Sanctions relating to the Western Balkans

22 U.S.C. § 10704

• Title: 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse
• Chapter: 114 — WESTERN BALKANS DEMOCRACY AND PROSPERITY

Text

(a) In general
Not later than 90 days after December 18, 2025, the President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to each foreign person that the President determines, on or after December 18, 2025, engages in an activity described in subsection (b).
(b) Activities described
A foreign person engages in an activity described in this subsection if the foreign person has—
(1) undertaken actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, or territorial integrity of any area or state in the Western Balkans;
(2) engaged or attempted to engage in actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the Western Balkans;
(3) engaged or attempted to engage in corruption related to the Western Balkans, including corruption by or on behalf of, a government in the Western Balkans, or a current or former government official in the Western Balkans;
(4) engaged or attempting to engage in serious human rights abuses in the Western Balkans; or
(5) engaged or attempted to engage in, acts that obstruct or threaten the implementation of any regional security, peace, cooperation, or mutual recognition agreement or framework or accountability mechanism related to the Western Balkans, including the Prespa Agreement of 2018; the Ohrid Framework Agreement of 2001; United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244; the Dayton Accords; or the Conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference Council held in London in December 1995, including the decisions or conclusions of the High Representative, the Peace Implementation Council, or its Steering Board; or the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, or, with respect to the former Yugoslavia, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
(c) Sanctions described
The sanctions described in this subsection are the following:
The President may exercise all authorities granted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in property and interests in property of the foreign person if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or come within the possession or control of a United States person.
An alien described in subsection (a) shall be—
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et 16 1 seq.).
The visa or other entry documentation of any alien described in subsection (a) is subject to revocation regardless of the issue date of the visa or other entry documentation.
A revocation under clause (i) shall, in accordance with section 1201(i) of title 8—
(I) take effect immediately; and
(II) cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the possession of the alien.
(d) Implementation; penalties
The President may exercise all authorities provided under sections 1702 and 1704 of title 50 for purposes of carrying out this section.
The penalties provided for in subsections (b) and (c) of section 1705 of title 50 shall apply to a person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this section or any regulations promulgated to carry out this section to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in section 1705(a) of title 50.
(e) Definitions
In this section:
The term "agricultural commodity" has the meaning given such term in section 5602 of title 7.
The term "medical device" has the meaning given the term "device" in section 321 of title 21.
The term "medicine" has the meaning given the term "drug" in section 321 of title 21.
The term "foreign person" means a person that is not a United States person.
(f) Termination of sanctions
The President may terminate the application of a sanction imposed pursuant to this section with respect to a person if the President certifies to the appropriate committees of Congress that—
(1) the person is not engaging in the activity that was the basis for such sanction or has taken significant verifiable steps toward stopping such activity; and
(2) the President has received reliable assurances that the person will not knowingly engage in activity subject to such sanction in the future.
(g) Waiver
The President may waive the application of sanctions imposed pursuant to this section for renewable periods not to exceed 180 days if the President—
(A) determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States; and
(B) not less than 15 days before the granting of the waiver, submits to the appropriate committees of Congress a notice of and justification for the waiver.
The waiver described in paragraph (1) may be transmitted in classified form.
(h) Exceptions
Sanctions authorized under this section shall not apply to—
(A) the conduct or facilitation of a transaction for the provision of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, medical devices, humanitarian assistance, or for humanitarian purposes; or
(B) transactions that are necessary for, or ordinarily incident to, the activities described in subparagraph (A).
Sanctions authorized under this section shall not apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling such alien is necessary—
(A) to comply with United States obligations under—
(i) the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947;
(ii) the Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967; or
(iii) any other international agreement; or
(B) to carry out or assist law enforcement activity in the United States.
Sanctions authorized under this section shall not apply to—
(A) any activity subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); or
(B) any authorized intelligence activities of the United States.
The requirement to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property under this section shall not include the authority or a requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
In this paragraph, the term "good" means any article, natural or manmade substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data.
(i) Rulemaking
The President is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section (which may include regulatory exceptions), including under section1704 of title 50).
(j) Rules of construction
(1) Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the authorities of the President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to modify any sanctions in effect as of December 18, 2025.
(k) Sunset
This section shall cease to have force or effect beginning on the date that is 8 years after December 18, 2025.

History

(Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, §8335, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1867.)

Editorial Notes

Editorial Notes

References in Text
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act, referred to in subsecs. (c)(1) and (j)(i), is title II of Pub. L. 95–223, Dec. 28, 1977, 91 Stat. 1626, which is classified generally to chapter 35 (§1701 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1701 of Title 50 and Tables.
The Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(A)(iii), (B)(ii), is act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163, which is classified principally to chapter 12 (§1101 et seq.) of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1101 of Title 8 and Tables.
The National Security Act of 1947, referred to in subsec. (h)(3)(A), is act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, 61 Stat. 495. Title V of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§3091 et seq.) of chapter 44 of Title 50, War and National Defense. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.