As a result of the actions of the Serbian leadership, as well as those of the Western governments, Kosovo today is a region with an unclear legal status and an uncertain future. Yugoslavia (Serbia) is outside the international community; Montenegro is on the brink of secession, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) risks facing even the specter of dissolution, under the increasing pressure of Albanian nationalism.

There are still quite a few elements that make up the Balkan puzzle and are examined in this study. Notably, we mention:

• The role of NATO and the European Union, both in the Balkan region and in other regional crises.
• The issue of border changes and minority rights.
• The course of the democratization process and the transition from centrally controlled economies to market economies.
• The utilization of financial assistance offered by the international community for the reconstruction of the region.
• The viability of protectorate states (such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo) after the withdrawal of NATO forces.
• Other serious challenges, such as organized crime, corruption, the creation of a dependency mentality on external aid, environmental pollution, etc.
• The prospects for regional cooperation.