The Balkans' European future

"Within the required reform that the E.U. expects; checks and balances on the democratic legitimacy of decision making within accession countries may well prevent internal infighting that hampers reform."

You don't get what the EU is, do you? The EU takes powers from member states - which were, for the most part, democratic - and replaces this with the power of unelected bureaucrats. The EU has the same structure as the old USSR and, remarkably, has a number of the same players.

The distant bureaucratic capital of Brussels has some truths in that description. In seeking reforms as a condition to accession the political process is often divorced from the reality that ordinary people experience.
Stefan Fule will at least have some grasp on the difficulties of expecting governments which are answerable more to 'powerful interests' than any elected mandate from its people. Economic restructuring in a system that is used to central control by powerful individuals may well only benefit the few. The unrest felt by those whom E.U. 'incentives'' don't put food on the table may fuel rising nationalism. The carrot of E.U. projects often has no trickle down effect as money is 'siphoned' of into non traceable companies that deliver little or no direct benefit to the ordinary people.
The privatisation process with judiciaries that have had little reform often produces a political 'elite' who's democratic credentials are one of power by stealth. In seeking reform as a condition to E.U. accession the need for oversight from previous experience of mistakes seems sensible.
Within the required reform that the E.U. expects; checks and balances on the democratic legitimacy of decision making within accession countries may well prevent internal infighting that hampers reform. The promotion of good internal government that facilitates change on behalf of the many seems essential. The prospect of governments that are still entrenched in central control factions that are non representative of their people is a prospect the E.U. needs to guard again

"But, in the Balkans, some nationalist leaders are questioning whether it is worth meeting the EU's demands."

Very true. Maybe an attempt to sabotage their economy might work, as it has with Iceland. Or to undermine their banking system (as in Switzerland). Failing that, they can always bring the tanks in.

Macedonia seems to have more and more imposed conditions. Open bilateral issues are now threatening NATO and EU membership. Why is the EU allowing this to occur, when it clearly didnt' object to Slovenia, Croatia nor Bulgaria?