AP: USAID freezes funding for groups supporting marginalised citizens in the Western Balkans

Many non-governmental organisations in the Western Balkans have remained blocked as US President Donald Trump unexpectedly froze foreign aid for three months.

Some of the groups rely on financing of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to serve marginalised communities. Other financing has been used to promote vital reforms in the judiciary and in the finance and energy sectors.

In Kosovo, USAID has promoted economic growth, helping small and medium-sized businesses as well as the country's integration into the European Union and Euro-Atlantic institutions. The United States has invested $2 billion ($1.93 billion) in Kosovo since 1999, including over $1 billion from the U. AID, writes the Associated Press, broadcast the newspaper Express.

Following Trump's command, all programmes and grants without exception approved by the Secretary of State who use foreign aid funds have been cut off. Only humanitarian relief programs for saving life must continue or resume work, according to a U response AID to Associated Press.

Blendi Haysa of the GAP Institute, a public policy institute, said USAID has suspended funding for 18 projects worth about $162m, affecting public institutions involved in taxes, procurement processes and other areas.

Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, head of the Kosovo Women's Network, an umbrella for about 140 non-governmental organisations, said some organisations have been halted funding.

The “all are uncertain about what will happen and how this will continue”, she said. This is very disturbing, especially in our region, where we have instability and financial instability can cause even more possible turmoil”.

Establishing funds for gender-related projects and diversity is a particular concern in the conservative country. US assistance has supported women's groups, women's rights, property rights, economic development and more.

This could leave groups of women blocked and unsupported”, Mustafa said.

We need to see what's going to happen and how gender diversity will continue in what forms”.

“This will be a strong signal for the European Union to provide more support, not only financially, but any kind of” support, she added.

EU and United States efforts to normalise Kosovo-Serbia have brought little change, the AP writes.

Milorad Dodik, president of a Serb-dominated part of Bosnia, welcomed the suspension of US foreign assistance, which he said was used to “demanted” societies and “eliminated” politicians worldwide.

Emina Bosnjak, executive director of Sarajevo's Open Centre, said many marginalised groups would experience negative influences because discrimination, violence and hate language were the themes that U. US promoted awareness and commitment.

The strongest statements that stand against human rights and stand against democracy and rule of law will in fact become more visible”, she said.

The European Commission is closely following developments regarding USAID's assistance to the Western Balkans, a spokesman said.

“Once there's clarity on the scale and focus of U AID in the future, the Commission will assess any possible impact on our targets”, he said in an answer to the Associated Press.