The UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) is completing the transfer of responsibilities to the province's newly created justice and internal affairs authorities. Under the new setup, the UN mission will function as an office dealing with rule of law within the top UN administrator's office, and will play an advising role. Once a decision is reached on the province's future status, the UN mission may transfer some of its responsibilities to a possible EU-led mission in Kosovo.
Meanwhile, NATO is streamlining its command and control structure in Kosovo in order to turn the Kosovo Force (KFOR) into a "more balanced force capable of responding to the needs of the situation" in the province. The move comes in reaction to criticisms for KFOR's slow reaction to riots in March 2004 in which 19 people died.
The EU's underlying aim is to create an area of peace, stability and prosperity in the Western Balkans. Croatia is already a negotiating candidate, while Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania are all hoping for EU membership.
