US State Department plans $2 million projects to promote conservative values in the Western Balkans

The Trump administration, through the US State Department, is preparing a new program that would allocate two million dollars for projects in the Western Balkans. The projects are intended to promote conservative values, especially freedom of speech, and to counter what the administration describes as EU censorship under the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. "Financial Times" reported that the administration has proposed the two‑million‑dollar allocation.

A separate five‑million‑dollar budget is earmarked for a broader European “civilizational alliance” supporting political forces aligned with the United States. Funding may also support activities previously backed by earlier administrations, such as opposition to authoritarian regimes and limiting Russian and Chinese influence. Calls for proposals are being drafted, but the grants are not yet guaranteed and will undergo standard expert review.