Albania, covering a surface of 28,748 sq km, is placed in the Southern part of the Balkans. Facing the Mediterranean Sea, the country borders on Fed. Republic of Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Greece. The territory - known in ancient times as Illyria - was long dominated by Greeks and Latins before becoming part, in 395 AD, of the Byzantine Empire.

Bosnia constituted part of the Roman Empire in the first centuries of the spread of Christianism throughout Europe. After the fall of the Empire the territory was initially contested between Byzantium and the western successors of the Romans.

Croatia is undertaking a steady progress towards full democratisation. The new leadership showed a clear change of attitude by in line with a democratic commitment. Reservations remain in relation to the specific issue of sustainability of the refugees' return process.

The recent political events have strongly affected - and seriously downgraded - the level of human development previously attained by FRY. As the economic situation improves, the standards of living of the entire population of the country are likely to rise again. In the meanwhile FRY has undertaken the path of a rapid democratic transition

Widespread poverty as a result of starking unemployment rate is a major and urgent issue in Kosovo. Distribution of assets is particularly uneven in the region with consequential inequalities among different groups of the population.

The political-economic reforms enacted by the Government have determined visible social changes that – even though initially supported – were experienced by many people as a heavy burden: a decline in welfare and deterioration in the quality of their lives.