Executive Order Blocking Property and Suspending Entry Into United States of Certain Persons Contributing to Destabilizing Situation

The White House

President Biden today signed an Executive Order to further address the ongoing national emergency declared in Executive Order (EO) 13219 of June 26, 2001 and EO 13304 of May 28, 2003 in relation to the Western Balkans. Today’s PO provides for additional sanctioning authorities, including against persons who threaten the peace, security, stability or territorial integrity of an area or state in the Western Balkans, as well as those who are responsible or complicit in this or who have participated directly or indirectly serious human rights violations, including in the Western Balkans. The PO, which the President signs today, builds on the existing national emergency and expands the designation criteria to address challenges such as corruption and other measures that hinder key institutions and international agreements.

Corruption anywhere in the world directly harms the foreign policy, national security, and economic health of the United States and our partners and allies. It is for this reason that the United States is committed to promoting accountability and combating impunity for those involved in significant corruption in the Western Balkans and around the world. Corruption, by definition, serves the interests of the few who participate, fill their own pockets and are accountable only to their personal interests, not the interests of a country or its people. Corruption weakens economic growth, promotes organized crime and undermines trust in democratic processes. These forces are opening the door for our strategic adversaries to undermine democracy, hinder progress towards effective and accountable governance, and prevent the Western Balkans from achieving full integration with the transatlantic institutions. They enable individuals to take advantage of weak rule of law and benefit from systemic corruption at the expense of citizens. They pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to national security and foreign policy in the United States.

Specifically, the President signs the EO today:

• Underlines the longstanding commitment of the United States to the implementation of the post-war agreements and institutions created after the collapse of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;
• Expands the criteria for naming sanctions to include, among other things, activities related to: threats to peace, security, stability or territorial integrity of an area or state in the Western Balkans undermining democratic processes or institutions in the Western Balkans; Involvement in serious human rights violations in the Western Balkans; and involvement in corruption related to the Western Balkans;
• expands our ability to target actors involved in a violation or act that hinders the implementation of a regional security, peace, cooperation or mutual recognition agreement or framework or accountability mechanism related to the Western Balkans through previous POs has threatened or threatened to incorporate the Prespa Agreement, the Conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference and the International Criminal Court Arrears Mechanism, the successor to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia; and
• Clarifies that the geographical scope of the Western Balkans includes the territory of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Albania.

All property and property rights of persons designated under this EO who are in, or coming to the United States, or owned or controlled by US persons are blocked and US persons are generally prohibited from using to do business with them. In addition, persons sanctioned under this EO will be prohibited from entering the United States or holding a US visa. Ensuring the security and political stability of the Western Balkans region is consistent with the Biden Administration’s commitment to promoting the US’s core national security interests, including the protection of democratic institutions. The administration will continue to face the challenges in the region. The US Treasury Department, in consultation with the US State Department, will continue to update the list of persons who will be sanctioned under this order.

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