The US extends sanctions for the Western Balkans: Is the message important to Kosovo as well?

This step, which concerns those who undermine the processes of mutual recognition, has attracted expert attention, and especially regarding the political situation in Kosovo and the possible impact of this decision on Kosovo citizenship and territorial integrity.

Full order:

On June 26, 2001, with Executive Order 13219, the president declared a national emergency situation regarding the Western Balkans, in accordance with the International Law on Economic Competences at Emergency Cases (50 U.C. 1701 following), to face the unusual and extremely serious threat to national security and foreign policy of the United States, composed of the actions of persons involved, or assisting, sponsor, or (i) extremist violence in the former Republic of Macedonia (now Republic of Northern Macedonia) and elsewhere in the Western Balkan region, or obstructing the implementation of the Dayton Agreement in Bosnia or the UN Security Council of June 12th, 1999.

The president later changed that order with Executive Order 13304 of May 28, 2003, to take additional steps in connection with specific actions barring implementation, among other things, of the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement dealing with the former Republic of Macedonia (now Republic of Northern Macedonia).

On June 8th, 2021, the president signed Executive Order 14033, which expanded the area of the national emergency situation announced with Executive Order 13219, changing, arguing that the situation on the territory of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Albania (Western Balkans), over the past two decades, including the minimin of agreements and post-war institutions that followed the breakup of the es. h - RFSJ, as well as widespread corruption within different governments and institutions in the Western Balkans, hinders progress towards effective and democratic governance and full integration into transatlantic institutions, and therefore poses an unusual and extremely serious threat to national security and foreign policy in the United States.

On January 8th 2025, the president signed the Executive Order 14140, in light of events in the Western Balkans, including continued efforts by individuals to challenge the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Western Balkan nations, to undermine post-war agreements and institutions, to engage in significant corruption that erodes rule of law and belief in democratic governance, and to avoid US government sanctions, and in order to take additional steps in terms of the national emergency situation for the Western Balkans.

The actions of those who threaten peace and efforts for international stabilisation in the Western Balkans, including acts of extremist violence and stumbling activities, as well as the situation in the Western Balkans that hampers progress towards effective and democratic governance and full integration into transatlantic institutions, continue to pose an unusual and extremely serious threat to national security and foreign policy of the United States.

For this reason, the national emergency state announced with Executive Order 13219, under which additional steps have been taken in Executive Order 13304, has expanded in content with Executive Order 14033, and additional steps have been taken with Executive Order 14140, should continue to be in force beyond June 26th 2025. Therefore, in line with Article 202H) of the National Emergency Situations Act (50 U.S.C. 1622 19), I am continuing for a year the national emergency situation announced with Executive Order 13219 concerning the Western Balkans.. /Periscopi/

Security threatens, US extends Balkan emergency situation by one year