2014: Elections, negotiations, economy

BELGRADE For Serbia, 2014 begins in a European way - on January 21 in Brussels the first intergovernmental conference between Serbia and the EU will be held. It will officially mark the start of accession negotiations. 2014: Elections, negotiations, economy Greece has taken over the six-month presidency of the EU, and that country was pleased to point out that the negotiations with the friendly Serbia would open during their mandate. Elections will also be a word heard many times in the new year. It could be known soon whether this will be an election year, as the strongest party, the SNS, and its leader, should make their decisions during January. What is certain is that in March, early local elections will be held in the city of Belgrade. There will be elections again in Kosovo, since it was agreed to hold parliamentary elections in June. Until then it will be seen how the Brussels agreement is applied in the field and in practice, while Ivica Dacic, Catherine Ashton, and Hashim Thaci will continue to hold their rounds of negotiations in Brussels. Regarding the economic situation, it will continue to be difficult and challenging in 2014, and the answer to the question of whether to cultivate optimism depends on whom you ask. On the global level, skepticism remains the position of the most important economic experts, while international organizations and financial institutions like the UN and the IMF are forecasting a slight improvement. In Serbia, all agree that this year will be difficult, but some politicians say that it will still be better than 2013, "because the light is seen at the end of the tunnel." According to the optimistic statements improvement will come "at the end of 2014." Serbia, Europe and the world will this year mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. One of the central events will be held in June in Sarajevo, as big debates continue about "the responsibility and guilt" for the beginning and the outbreak of that war. How Serbia to manage all this will be one of the great challenges in 2014. This year was marked by at least two major sporting events - the Winter Olympics in Sochi and the World Cup in Brazil. B92 will continue to report about these and other events, and we believe our internet, radio and television programs will have an even greater audience. We wish everyone a happy and successful new year. (Beta/AP, file) B92

2014: Elections, negotiations, economy

Greece has taken over the six-month presidency of the EU, and that country was pleased to point out that the negotiations with the friendly Serbia would open during their mandate.

Elections will also be a word heard many times in the new year. It could be known soon whether this will be an election year, as the strongest party, the SNS, and its leader, should make their decisions during January.

What is certain is that in March, early local elections will be held in the city of Belgrade.

There will be elections again in Kosovo, since it was agreed to hold parliamentary elections in June. Until then it will be seen how the Brussels agreement is applied in the field and in practice, while Ivica Dačić, Catherine Ashton, and Hashim Thaci will continue to hold their rounds of negotiations in Brussels.

Regarding the economic situation, it will continue to be difficult and challenging in 2014, and the answer to the question of whether to cultivate optimism depends on whom you ask. On the global level, skepticism remains the position of the most important economic experts, while international organizations and financial institutions like the UN and the IMF are forecasting a slight improvement.

In Serbia, all agree that this year will be difficult, but some politicians say that it will still be better than 2013, "because the light is seen at the end of the tunnel." According to the optimistic statements improvement will come "at the end of 2014."

Serbia, Europe and the world will this year mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. One of the central events will be held in June in Sarajevo, as big debates continue about "the responsibility and guilt" for the beginning and the outbreak of that war. How Serbia to manage all this will be one of the great challenges in 2014.

This year was marked by at least two major sporting events - the Winter Olympics in Sochi and the World Cup in Brazil.

B92 will continue to report about these and other events, and we believe our internet, radio and television programs will have an even greater audience.

We wish everyone a happy and successful new year.