Balkans in 2018: Missed Opportunities and a Glimmer of Hope

(Patria) - From one to five, the past year could get a grade of two and a half - says Nedžad from Sarajevo, and his opinion seems to be shared by citizens of Belgrade, Pristina, and Podgorica.

The year 2018 was marked by turmoil, election campaigns, and scaring the public, assesses Nedžad. Others surveyed by Aida Đugum, a journalist from Radio Free Europe, do not have a much better opinion of the past year.

For Marko Markanović from Belgrade, all his wishes have been fulfilled because his children are employed, and in the coming year he expects: "Price increases, electricity goes up, water goes up, and what little they give you, they take away like that," says Marko.

For Vera Milovac, the holiday atmosphere is a big sham.

"Someone wrote nicely on Facebook: The city looks like Zorica Brunclik decorated it. It's all a sham, they think we are concussed, operated on, that we have no brains, that we don't see how we live, that we should believe this glitter. Just enter my street, potholes from last year's snow. The boulevard was full of garbage and leaves until the other day. They decorate the center and don't see the huge crowd whistling," emphasizes Vera.

Pensioner Natalija Atanasković says she expects nothing from the state in the coming year, except perhaps a pension increase.

"Nothing special, a year like any other. There can't be a big change. What marked it? It was a bit turbulent, but it's okay, I wouldn't have anything specific to highlight. Maybe problems around Kosovo," recalls Natalija in the text by Nevena Bogdanović:

And when it comes to Kosovo, the outgoing year has not met the expectations of Kosovo citizens, especially young people for whom visa liberalization remains a wish year after year. In the new year, they hope for almost everything they hoped for in the past – better education, new jobs, and freedom of movement.

"We expected higher quality education, new jobs, visa liberalization. They made a promise that it would happen, whether it will be fulfilled now after 10 years is unknown," says student Idealj Ćoćaj in the text by Amra Zejneli:

In Montenegro, in the days when most people elsewhere in the world are "drawing a line" and considering what was done well or poorly this year, some citizens admit they can hardly wait to see off 2018.

"I think it will be better, I hope. Personally, I say I am happy and satisfied and that I am doing well. We don't have to have a lot to be satisfied," says Nevenka from Podgorica.

Entrepreneur Ljiljana has a completely opposite opinion about 2018. When asked by Radio Free Europe what 2018 was like, Ljiljana replies:

"Unsuccessful, and I'm afraid 2019 will be even more unsuccessful. Salaries are not moving, pensions are small. People live hard, politicians live well. They are doing well, they are doing great! They can do anything, and we are left to ourselves, and that's it. I don't expect any improvement, really. Although, maybe I'm at an age where experience has taught me not to expect..." explains Ljljana her views on the upcoming year in the text by Lele Šćepanović